Pakistan Army secures PTV office building (Third Lead)

The Pakistan Army Monday secured the Pakistan Television (PTV) network office here after protesters occupied the building, disrupting transmission.

PTV officials said that the transmission has been restored, Dawn online reported.

PTV tweeted: "PTV World and News transmission has been restored."

Mohammad Malik, managing director of PTV, said that cameras worth hundreds of thousands of rupees were stolen from the headquarters, and protesters also damaged cables inside the office.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Shireen Mazari said that the attack on the network building was unacceptable, adding that those involved in the attack should be punished.

PTI leader Imran Khan said his party's demonstrators had not broken into the PTV building, and that if any PTI protesters were found inside, they would be kicked out from the party.

"I appeal to the protesters to refrain from any harmful activity within the area and also refrain from acts that would defame the party," Imran Khan said.

Meanwhile, army chief Raheel Sharif is holding a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss the prevailing political crisis as well as the violent clashes that have broken out as the police crack down on protesters at Constitution Avenue.

Imran Khan congratulated the protesters for holding protests for the past 17 days and directed them to remain peaceful to avoid any violent clashes.

Imran Khan also asked Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri to direct his party protesters to remain peaceful and non-violent.

Earlier, protesters in Islamabad moved beyond the Secretariat area and headed towards the Prime Minister's House.

The protests led by PTI chief Imran Khan and Qadri began Aug 15 in an attempt to topple Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is accused of rigging the 2013 general elections.

The protests turned violent late Saturday and Sunday and as a result, at least three people were killed with over 450 protesters injured.