Islamabad, August 26
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Army Chief today agreed on the need to “expeditiously” end political deadlock that has raised fears of instability, as the government stepped up backchannel efforts to reach out to protesters.

The meeting between Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif came in the wake of protests held by supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, demanding the PM’s resignation.

“Overall security environment was discussed in the meeting. There was a consensus on the need to resolve the ongoing issue expeditiously in the best national interest,” a PMO statement said.

The government did not give further details about the meeting. Political stalemate has continued for the past 13 days with Khan-led PTI and Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) refusing to budge from their demand of the Prime Minister’s resignation over allegations of rigging in the last year’s general election and killing of 14 PAT supporters in Lahore on June 17.

Backchannel consultations were on to reach an amicable settlement. “There has been a deadlock with the PTI and PAT over one point — PM’s resignation. The government is ready to accept all other demands related to rigging and electoral reforms but both the protesting parties are sticking to their major demand of the premier’s resignation,” Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar said.

“I am tasked by the government to make a final attempt to convince Khan to drop his demand of the PM’s resignation for the sake of democracy and the people of this country,” the Governor said.

The protesters have not moved away from the Constitution Avenue despite the SC's orders yesterday. — PTI