Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif attends Parliament amid anti-govt protests, Tahir ul-Qadri asks supporters to `lay siege`

Zee Media Bureau/ Neha Attre

Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahir ul-Qadri has reportedly asked his supporters to lay siege to the Parliament. The cleric further asked the supporters to maintain the sanctity of the National Assembly and not resort to indulge in violence and vandalism. "Don`t let all those inside come out and don`t let anyone go in," the cleric, Qadri reportedly told his supporters.

PM reaches Parliament to attend National Assembly even as thousands of anti-government protesters remain outside seeking his resignation.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have said that the Parliament session will begin as scheduled despite the presence of thousands of PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters in the `red zone`.

Pakistani Army has assured Sharif that there will be no coup and urged a meeting between him and the PTI chief.

Shortly after the tweet, Rafique denied having an account on microblogging website Twitter and denied making any statement on meeting between Sharif and PTI chief, according to a news report in Dawn.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has agreed to meet PTI chief Imran Khan, senior Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leader, Khawaja Saad Rafique tweeted in an account operated by Team PMLN.

It has been decided PM will meet Imran Khan for the sake of country, Despite of language which Khan Shb used against him

— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) August 20, 2014

Pakistan`s powerful military called for talks today to resolve a week-long political drama as tens of thousands of protesters marched on Parliament in a bid to depose the Prime Minister, the AFP reported. 

Imran Khan today tweeted that the “giant step” was taken for the sake of Pakistan`s democracy.

"When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty." Yesterday we took a giant step 4 Naya Pakistan & democracy..

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 20, 2014

Former cricketer Imran Khan has given a deadline of Wednesday evening to PM Nawaz Sharif to resign from the post.

US on Wednesday made an appeal to solve the differences through discussions and said that “all parties here should work together to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue in a way that strengthens Pakistan`s democracy”.

Besieged Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been assured by the country`s military there will be no coup, but in return he must "share space with the Army," the Reuters reported. Also See: Protests against Pakistan government

However, protesters forced their way past barricades to enter the `red zone` using cranes and bolt cutters to get past barricades and barbed wires even as the Army personnel looked on.

Army spokesperson Asim Bajwal tweeted that the buildings in the `red zone` were being protected by the Army and their sanctity should be respected.

#ISPR Release1/3:Bldgs in red Zone r symbol of State&being protected by Army,therefore sanctity of these national symbols must be respected— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 19, 2014

Cleric Tahir ul-Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief marched into `red zone` along with thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of PM. `Red Zone` is referred to the area which houses government buildings including Parliament and the Prime Minister house.

Tens of thousands of Pakistan protesters reached Islamabad Parliament on Wednesday morning seeking resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan has been rocked by protests led by cleric Tahir ul-Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan who are seeking the resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif. They claim that the General Elections held in the country last year were rigged. While PML-N had registered a landslide victor by emerging victorious on 190 seats out of 342, Khan`s PTI could only win 34 seats. Qadri, who heads the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) or Peoples Movement, and Khan then made a call for `Azadi` (independence) march to safeguard the democracy of the country.