After 14 days of protests in the federal capital, the political deadlock between the government and Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri’s parties continues.
Today is expected to be a decisive day as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief is due to announce his ‘future course of action’ and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader has said that it will be “the day of revolution”.
Read our coverage of PTI’s Azadi March here and the Inqilab March here.
August 28, 1:22pm
PTI Central Information Secretary, Shireen Mazari, while talking to Express News, says “We just want the prime minister to step down for a month during the judicial commission. It is a reasonable demand.”
“We are non-violent and we do not believe in violence. We were provoked in Gujranwala by the PML-N workers, and still we did not retaliate,” she adds.
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August 28, 1:18pm
Khawaja Saad Rafique appealed to Imran and Qadri to send the people at their protests home in a peaceful manner, asking Qadri not to rile up his supporters further.
He says that the party chiefs had promised that they would not enter the Red Zone, but they broke these promises.
Rafique adds that “Imran Khan is speaking in a non-parliamentary manner in the name of protests”
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August 28, 1:15pm
Rafique says Imran Khan is being stubborn and demanding the PM’s resignation even though his other demands have been accepted.
“We accepted five of his six demands,” Rafique states, adding that it is not their own but the Parliament’s opinion that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation cannot be demanded.
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August 28, 1:08pm
The process for the registration of the FIR has started, says Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, during a press conference in Islamabad.
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August 28, 1:05pm
Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, while addressing the National Assembly, said that the government is ready to register an FIR against those responsible in the Model Town incident, our correspondent Azam Khan reports.
He said the FIR will be registered against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as well as some members of the federal cabinet and provincial cabinet.
Additionally, he said that no unconstitutional demands will accepted.
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August 28, 12:32pm
A meeting to discuss the current deadlock on negotiations with protesting parties PTI and PAT is underway at the prime minister chamber, Express News reports.
The meeting is being led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and attendees at the meeting include Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch.
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August 28, 11:55am
Shah Mehmood Qureshi will reach Karachi at 4:30pm today to participate in protests in the city, Express News reports.
Sources have confirmed that he will meet with Former Sindh chief minister Ghous Ali Shah and Mumtaz Ali Bhutto during his visit.
Qureshi is also due to hold a press conference at 5pm.
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August 28, 11:40am
A large contingent of police has been deployed in the Red Zone in Islamabad, Express News reports. The security personnel have been posted near the Supreme Court and the Pakistan Secretariat.
Express News screengrab of police officers posted in Islamabad.
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August 28, 9:25am
Supporters of PAT chief Tahirul Qadri shout slogans during a protest in front of the Parliament in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP
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August 28, 2:50am
Our correspondent Rabia Ali reports that MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a television interview said that if the government is not ready to accept the PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s legitimate demands, then its better that it packs up and goes home voluntarily in order to avoid bloodshed.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif should also resign if FIR of the Model Town incident is not registered, said MQM chief.
He warned that if confrontation and disagreement persists, then a third force would have to step in.
Government should realise that those killed in the Model Town were also humans, not some insects, said Hussain.
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August 28, 2:30am
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif canceled his visit to Turkey to attend the oath taking ceremony of Turkish President Raccep Tayyab Erdogan, Express News reports.
Now, President Mamnoon Hussain will represent Pakistan at the ceremony.
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August 28, 2:12am
According to Express News correspondent Asif Faraz, the government delegation had set two conditions before PAT to lodge the Model Town incident FIR and pay compensation to the families of the deceased. The conditions were that PAT agrees to immediately end their sit-in and drop prime minister Nawaz Sharif and chief minister Shahbaz Sharif’s names from their FIR.
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August 28, 1:08am
Dear PMLN, register the FIR and hold the responsible accountable – That's it! MQM will not support you with the injustices on the people.
— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) August 27, 2014
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August 28, 1:06am
Talking to Express News, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed admits that there is coordination between PAT and PTI.
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August 28, 12:54am
Our team had conveyed to the PAT that we are ready to have a baseless and false FIR lodged against us, if Qadri agrees to let the people whom he is holding hostage go, says Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid.
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August 28, 12:28am
I have a gut instinct 2day is going 2 be final round & I want my tigers, tigresses & all r workers,wherever they may be,2 arrive in D Chowk.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 27, 2014
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August 28, 12:24am
Tomorrow a decision will be made, and the people will make that decision, says PAT chief.
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August 28, 12:23am
Qadri says on Thursday 3pm, he will deliver his march’s and sit-in’s final address.
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August 28, 12:18am
“Today [Thursday] will be the day of Revolution,” says Qadri.
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August 28, 12:18am
No need to send any minister for negotiations now, says PAT chief.
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August 28, 12:17am
Qadri says we had told the government’s negotiation team that if they were ready to accept our first two demands, then instead of informing us send SHO Faisal Town to the station so that FIR is registered.
Resignations of chief minister and prime minister aside, government is not even ready to register the FIR of the Model Town incident, says Qadri.
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August 28, 12:13am
I had told the government’s team not to come back after 30 mins if our initial two demands can not be met, says Qadri.
Our first demand was registration of FIR of Model Town incident and second was the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, says PAT chief.
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August 28, 12:10am
Talks with government have failed, says PAT chief.
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August 28, 12:09am
I would like to thank MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan and Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar for their efforts to resolve the matter, says PAT chief.
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August 28, 12:06am
Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan said that during their talks, the prime minister said if his name comes up in the Model Town incident, then he had no moral standing to remain as the PM.
The PM heard all that we had to say, and directed his men to solve the issues.
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August 28, 12:05am
If just demands of PAT are not accepted, then MQM chief Altaf Hussain, who has shown restraint so far, may also stand with PAT, says Ebad.
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August 28, 12:02am
We think all the constitutional demands of Qadri should be accepted, says governor Sindh.
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For our coverage of the sit-ins from August 24 to 27 here; for August 23 and 22, visit here; for 20 and 21, click here. You can read our coverage of the march into the Red Zone here.