Leave Islamabad's protest venue: Pakistan SC

In the second such direction, the Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday ordered the two parties leading anti-government sit-in protests to clear out of Islamabad's Constitution Avenue area by Thursday.

The two parties are seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A five-member larger Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk heard petitions filed by bar associations across the country against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sit-ins at the apex court and parliament here, Dawn online reported.

The petitions have challenged the protests as breaching the rights of the common citizen as enshrined in Articles 15 and 16 of the constitution.

After making several observations, the court ordered PAT and PTI protesters to clear the way in front of parliament by Thursday. The case will next be heard Aug 28.

The protesters have camped in front of Parliament House and the SC building since Aug 19, making the road less accessible for the Supreme Court, Prime Minister's Office and secretariat employees.

On Tuesday, the protesters from the two parties defied the Supreme Court's order to clear the area.

The protests in Islamabad began Aug 15 and entered the 12th day Wednesday as PTI, PAT and the government remained deadlocked over Sharif's resignation.

The two parties accuse Sharif of rigging the 2013 general election.