Protesters tear down barricades to reach Pak parliament

Protesters in Pakistan, led by former national cricket team captain Imran Khan and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, on Wednesday claimed victory after tearing down barricades and occupying a key road outside Parliament, where they are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over alleged voting fraud. Despite the mounting pressure, Sharif’s party said he would not quit, while the country’s powerful army called for a negotiated settlement. The twin protests led by the famous cricketer-turned-politician Imran and Qadri have brought tens of thousands of people in Parliament area, raising fears of unrest in the country with a history of military coups and dictatorship. ‘Situation requires patience, wisdom and sagacity from all stakeholders to resolve prevailing impasse,’ army spokesman General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on Twitter. He said the government buildings in the so-called Red Zone were a ‘symbol of state’ and were being protected by the army. Imran, the founder of Tehrik-e-Insaaf party, has called on demonstrators not to enter the Parliament building but warned he would lead his supporters into the premier’s office if Sharif does not step down by this (Wednesday) evening. Imran, who heads parliament’s 3rd-largest political bloc, and Qadri – who enjoys a wide religious following – have led twin rallies calling on Sharif to resign, accusing him of rigging the May 2013 national polls, according to a news agency.