Salman Khurshid hopes for peace in Pakistan

In wake of the ongoing anti-government protests in Islamabad, senior Congress leader and former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday hoped that there is peace and democracy remains in force in Pakistan.

"I think it is necessary for entire region that there should be peace and democracy remains in force. It will be profitable for all of us. But we can't do anything, we can only hope for the best," he said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy feared that Pakistan could emerge as a strong theocratic state.

"Conservative Islamic culture is taking roots there very rapidly and it is also being influenced from Iraq. I think Pakistan will emerge as a strong theocratic state-it is already an Islamic state. It is dangerous for us also," he added.

Former diplomat Naresh Chandra on his part said that the crisis would considerably weaken the Pakistani government.

"Pakistan army will not stage a formal coup due to role of America and other nations but it will run the government from behind the scene," he added.

According to reports, at least eight protesters were killed and over 400 people injured in clashes with the police in Pakistan as anti-government protests continue in the capital city of Islamabad.

The police reportedly fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters, who were attempting to march towards Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence in Islamabad.

A crowd of about 25,000 people led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ( PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek ( PAT) chief Tahir-ul Qadri made its way to Sharif's house late Saturday after talks with the government mediated by the Pakistani military failed, reported the Dawn.

The clashes between the police and the protesters continued on Sunday as the cops baton-charged the crowd in an attempt to disperse them. Some agitators also tried to resist the police by pelting stones and using sticks.