Pakistan premier refuses to resign amid mass protests
Iran Press TV
Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:55AM GMT
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has refused to step down amid mass protests in front of parliament calling for the government’s resignation.
“We are not going to be diverted by these things,” Sharif said on Wednesday, referring to calls for his resignation by thousands of protesters camped outside the parliament during the crisis which erupted two weeks ago.
“The journey for the supremacy of the constitution and law in Pakistan will continue with full determination and, God willing, there will not be any interruption in it,” the premier added.
The statement comes as cleric Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri issued on August 25 a 48-hour deadline for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ordered protest leaders and the government to find a compromise solution so that the “Red Zone” -- home to parliament, the prime minister's home, embassies and government offices -- could be cleared.
However, protesters defied the court’s order and stayed put for the 13th day on Tuesday.
The campaign to seek the ouster of the government began on August 14, when Qadri, who is the head of the opposition Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) party, and Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, separately led rallies with thousands of their followers.
The opposition groups have been protesting against alleged vote fraud in last year’s parliamentary elections that brought Sharif to power.
The government has repeatedly rejected the calls for resignation.
Sharif has ordered the Supreme Court to build an investigative team to look into the elections, but has said he will not resign.
So far, negotiations between the government and opposition leaders have failed to bring about a solution to the current standoff, with each side sticking to its position.
GMA/AB
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