Islamabad: Pakistan government on Friday said that resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is out of question but it is open to negotiate with the Opposition on the current political unrest.
Pakistan Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying this to reporters.
The development came shortly after Army Chief General Raheel Sharif met Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul Qadri early this morning to defuse the fortnight-long political crisis in Pakistan, hours after he was named the official mediator.
However, PTI chief refused to budge from his demand.
After holding talks with leaders of the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), General Raheel Sharif is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif later in the day.
PTI leader Imran Khan and PAT leader Tahir-ul-Qadri had on Thursday accepted the army chief as a mediator and guarantor in solving the current political impasse.
The protests launched by Khan and Qadri began Aug 15 for the resignation of Nawaz Sharif, who is accused of rigging the 2013 general election.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said both Khan and Qadri met the army chief separately and agreed to take steps to resume the dialogue.
According to officials, the prime minister is prepared to show resilience on all demands put forward by PTI and PAT except the one calling for his resignation.
