Popular cleric Tahir-ul Qadri too issued a 48-hour ultimatum
Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, center, with other his party leaders attend an anti government rally during heavy rain in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. (Photo: AP)
Islamabad: Pakistan opposition leader Imran Khan on Sunday warned the Nawaz Sharif government that thousands of his supporters could enter the high-security Red Zone in Capital Islamabad if Prime Minister Sharif refuses to quit.
Popular cleric Tahir-ul Qadri too issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the same.
Mr Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman, and Qadri, chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, started separate rallies from Lahore on Thursday and reached in the national capital after more than 35 hours. They are camping at different venues. Mr Khan warned that if his demands are not met within a certain time period, his 'tsunami' would cross into the Red Zone and protest in front of Parliament.
"Don't blame me if I failed to control these people (from entering high security area). I can control them until tomorrow (Sunday) night," he said past midnight on Sunday. On the other hand, Qadri presented a list of 14 demands in which he demanded that the Sharif government resign and the (provincial) assemblies are dissolved "within 48 hours".
Mr Khan is protesting against alleged rigging of last year polls while Qadri had announced to bring a revolution in the country. Their demands invited strong criticism from the government, with Information minister Pervaiz Rashid saying, "They (Khan and Qadri) are giving deadline to democracy in the country and not the government."
He said both Mr Khan and Qadri were allowed to go ahead with protests march after clear understanding to the government that they will respect the Red Zone where key offices and diplomatic missions are located. Altaf Hussan, London-based chief of Mutahida Qaumi Movement, urged both leaders to give up their extreme demand and withdraw deadlines.
He also asked the government to start talks for finding a solution within the constitution of the country. There are also reports that government was planning to shift the venue of Khan's protest which is a few hundreds meter away from the Red Zone.
( Source : PTI )
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