Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday got the backing of Parliament with leaders of most parties urging the government to take strong action against protesters for their “mutiny against Pakistan”.

The emergency joint session of Parliament was convened to support the Prime Minister and discuss the current impasse.

The tone was set by Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan who said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were trying to take over the National Assembly in the name of democratic protests.

The joint session was convened after two allies — Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema Islam (JUI) and Mahmud Achakzai of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party — alleged the protesters were receiving covert support from the Army. The government hoped Parliament’s support would give a strong message to the Army to refrain from encouraging protesters.

Nisar alleged the methods adopted by the Opposition were both illegal and unlawful.

Rehman and Achakzai sought strong action against protesters saying the Prime Minister must stay firm and refuse to give in to the demands of a few thousand people at gunpoint.

While Fazl said Imran had failed to get popular support despite repeated frantic appeals, Achakzai threatened to bring his tribal people from Balochistan if the government failed to suppress the protesters.

While Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) criticised Sharif’s style of governance by relying on a close coterie of family members and friends, he said the Premier should not resign under pressure.

He said though most allegations levelled by Imran were correct, the method adopted to topple the government was unconstitutional.

“It is our compulsion to support present government because we want to save democracy and constitution,” he added.

Sharif had late last night refused to step down or go on leave saying he would not let people’s mandate be hijacked by intimidation.

Sharif did not speak and the discussion was to continue tomorrow with the Speaker adjourning the House. At the end of the debate, the joint sitting will adopt a resolution to support Sharif urging him not to resign or go on leave as demanded by Khan and Qadri.

Joint sittings of Upper House and Lower House are convened only on important occasions or to deal with emergencies.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army, in a statement, has rejected assertions that it along with the ISI was backing the PTI and PAT in the current political standoff.