Pak President calls for joint session of Parliament

As protests between security forces and protesters aggravate in the high security red zone of Islamabad, the President of Pakistan today called for a joint session of Parliament.

The police had to resort to firing of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd of protesters near the government buildings.

Earlier the national television channel of the country was briefly taken off air after its headquarters were stormed by anti-government protesters.

The protesters supporting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party chief Imran Khan and cleric Tahirul Qadri are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while Sharif has refused to either resign or go on leave.

The Pakistani Prime Minister said he will not allow setting an example under which a few people make hostage mandate of millions of people.

Sharif also met the Army chief, General Raheel Sharif for talks on the crisis. The Army has denied charges that it is backing Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri.

The Army in its statement also said that it is an apolitical institution and has expressed its indisputable support for democracy.