This Article is From Aug 29, 2014

Pakistan Crisis: 'Didn't ask Army to Mediate', says PM Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Crisis: 'Didn't ask Army to Mediate', says PM Nawaz Sharif

We didn't ask the army to play mediator: Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: As the Pakistan army stepped in to resolve a fortnight-long crisis over anti-government protests in Islamabad led by cricketer-turned-opposition politician Imran Khan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he had not asked the army to mediate.

"We didn't ask the army to play mediator. But the army did it anyway because the security of this area is their responsibility," Mr Sharif said on Friday.

Late on Thursday night, Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif met Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and cleric Tahir-ul Qadri, who have been leading protests against alleged rigging in last year's general election.

Mr Khan has been demanding the Prime Minister's resignation and a full probe into alleged rigging that he says helped him take power. An independent investigation, he says, is not possible with Mr Sharif in power.

After the meeting, Mr Khan told his followers, "When the government has asked the army to talk to us - it means the government doesn't think there is any political resolution."

The army chief's intervention came hours after the government conceded a key demand of the protesters - booking the Prime Minister and other top ministers for their alleged role in the clashes that killed 14 supporters of cleric Qadri in Lahore.

Mr Qadri later said the Prime Minister must be booked under terror charges.

Earlier in the day, Mr Sharif had met the army chief to discuss the standoff - the second such meeting in three days.

Analysts say Pakistan's powerful army has been covertly aiding the two protest groups. The announcement that the military is acting as arbiter fueled speculation that the army could use the crisis to re-assert its dominance over the civilian government again.




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