Pak sit- ins at edge of PM house

Nawaz Sharif can’t be trusted, says Imran PTI moves court against Pakistan PM

Pakistan Tehrik- eInsaaf ( PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik ( PAT) on Saturday announced the shifting of their sit- ins to within feet of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office as they stormed into the high- security zone of the official residence of the Premier.

[ There were reports late on Saturday night that a female protester had died in firing.]

“We have been protesting against the rigging and the Prime Minister who came to power as a result of that rigging. We will remain peaceful but will move to the front gate of the PM’s house. We will not force our way into the PM’s house, ”Imran Khan told supporters.

He warned Mr Sharif that if force was used against the protesters, there would be “dire consequences and you will also not be spared”.

Even as cleric Tahir- ulQadri set a fresh 24- hour deadline for Pakistan Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif to quit, Mr Sharif on Saturday said that political parties winning public mandate cannot be made hostages by few thousand protesters.

Talking to reporters in Lahore, Prime Minister Sharif said the government will not tolerate any undemocratic step.

He said that lawful demands of the protesting parties have already been accepted.

“Demand regarding electoral reforms is already accepted and we have also offered formation of a judicial commission to probe ( electoral rigging),” he said, referring to the anti- government sit- ins of the Pakistan Tehrik- eInsaf ( PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik ( PAT).

“This is just a tiny storm, a tumult, which would be ended in a few days,” Mr Sharif added.

Mr Sharif said the ongoing protests have caused massive damage to the country’s economy. “These sit- ins have badly affected the development projects,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that country is going through a tumultuous situation which will end soon. He asserted that doors to dialogue will always remain open.

Mr Sharif said the Chinese President is due to visit Islamabad shortly to launch a number of mega- projects for the development of Pakistan, but if the protests continue this important visit could also be postponed.

He said National Assembly has passed a resolution that no conspiracy against democracy will be allowed to succeed and the government is determined to implement this resolution as it is the voice of the people.

To a question, Mr Sharif said the government has already written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a judicial commission to

— NAWAZ SHARIF,

Pak Prime Minister

probe alleged rigging in the general elections.

In a late night development, cleric Qadri’s camp was visited by a delegation of the PTI led by vicechairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who convinced the Pakistan Awami Tehreek ( PAT) chief to delay his next move.

Following the meeting, the first direct contact between the two groups since they together started the march on August 14, Qadri set a 24- hour deadline for the Premier to step down.

After their meeting, Mr Qureshi reiterated his party’s request to postpone further action, which the protesters did not agree to. At this, Qadri came out of his container and asked his followers to give their assent to the PTI proposal.

Meanwhile, PTI chief Khan on Saturday said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cannot be trusted.

In a message posted on Twitter, Mr Khan said PM Nawaz will influence the investigation process of alleged rigging in the last year’s elections if he stayed in power.

Insisting over investigation of alleged rigging during last year’s general elections, Mr Khan said Prime Minister Sharif has lost his credibility so he should not be at the helm anymore. He said that Mr Sharif may buy or scare the witnesses as they did in the past too.

Also, a petition was filed in the Lahore high court Saturday seeking to disqualify Mr Sharif for lying in his speech to Parliament. The petition has been filed by the Lawyers Forum of the PTI.