Pakistan Supreme Court summons opposition leaders
Iran Press TV
Wed Aug 20, 2014 11:53AM
Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the country's opposition leaders to appear in court following mass protests seeking the resignation of the prime minister.
The Pakistani Chief Justice, Nasir ul-Mulk, said Wednesday that the country's opposition leaders, including Pakistani politician Imran Khan and cleric Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri, have been summoned in response to a petition filed against them over their protests.
"We would like to give notice to all respondents for tomorrow," the chief justice noted.
On Wednesday, supporters of Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) movement occupied a key road outside parliament, calling on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign.
The cleric told his supporters not to allow anybody in or out of the building.
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party says the Sharif administration has failed to investigate alleged election irregularities. The PTI has called for new polls.
Meanwhile, Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) said the premier would not quit.
Instead, the country's powerful army has called for a negotiated settlement of the political standoff.
The recent anti-government demonstrations have been led by Khan and ul-Qadri.
The twin protests have brought tens of thousands of people into the streets over the past few days.
Pakistan's opposition groups accuse Sharif of corruption and rigging last year's parliamentary elections.
During general elections held on May 11, 2013, Sharif's center-right party secured 176 seats of the 342-member Pakistani National Assembly.
Later in June last year, Pakistani lawmakers endorsed Sharif as the country's new prime minister, electing him for an unprecedented third term more than a decade after he was ousted in a coup.
GMA/AB/SS
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