Pak Army Chief asks Sharif to step down?

• SC offers to assist in ending the ongoing political impasse
• Protesters storm into the Secretariat and the state-run PTV
• Imran Khan, Qadri booked under anti-terrorist act
• Army takes control of Pakistan Television
• Sharif asked to step down for three months to enable talks
• Both Govt, Army spokespersons, however, deny any such move

Islamabad: In a dramatic escalation of the political crisis that has put Pakistan on edge, hundreds of protesters on Monday stormed the Secretariat and the state-run PTV, even as the powerful Army Chief met Premier Nawaz Sharif, triggering rumours that he was advised to step down.

Fresh clashes erupted on Monday between police and protesters who forcibly entered the Secretariat here after breaking its gate, hours after the military asked all parties to peacefully resolve the over two-week long deadlock.

Television images showed protesters pelting stones and police using batons and tear gas to disperse the angry crowd. In a significant development, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were booked under the anti-terrorist act for attempting to attack Parliament.

The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Khan and Qadri on behalf of the government. On Saturday night, supporters of Khan and Qadri tried to storm Prime Minister Sharif's residence by breaking through the police barricade. The protesters, demanding resignation of Sharif over alleged rigging in last year's election, also entered the lawn of Parliament but they were stopped at the main entrance of the building where soldiers were deployed.

With the political crisis taking a violent turn, the Supreme Court on Monday offered to assist in ending the ongoing political impasse among PTI, PAT and the ruling PML-N government. After a brief calm due to overnight rain, the protesters armed with clubs and sticks this morning broke the gate and entered the premises of the secretariat, defying calls from the army personnel not to enter the building.

Later in the day, hundreds of protesters stormed the Pakistan Television's (PTV) office, blocking its transmission briefly before the Army evicted them and secured the building.

Protesters barged into the PTV network office, smashing cameras, and entered the control room. Over 800 protesters entered the building. Army personnel reached the headquarters of the TV station and asked the protesters to leave the building immediately. The Army then took control of PTV headquarters and evicted the protesters.

Meanwhile, fresh controversy erupted after Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif met Premier Sharif to discuss ways to resolve the deepening political crisis. After TV channels reported that Army Chief General Sharif has advised the Prime Minister to step down, both the government and military issued separate denials, dismissing the claims as "baseless". Duniya TV reported that Gen Sharif has asked the Premier to resign for a temporary three-month period as demanded by protesters to let an independent commission probe alleged rigging in last year's general election. A government spokesperson immediately denounced rumours broadcast on TV channels.

The spokesperson termed the rumours "baseless" and "fake". Military spokesperson Major Gen Asim Bajwa also denied the reports.