No long or short march can derail democracy: Sharif

Islamabad: Embattled Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today hit back at protesters, saying no "long or short march" can derail the government, even as Imran Khan vowed to continue his sit-in indefinitely till the Premier resigns.

Sharif, while addressing the joint session of the Parliament convened to support the Premier and discuss the current impasse, said, "the plans of nefarious elements in the country have been foiled in Parliament." He said the government had the option of evicting the protesters from the capital but use of force could harm women and children being used as "human shields" by the protesting groups. "The prevailing situation has made Pakistan a laughing stock...These people will have to face a public court and answer for what they have done," Sharif said.

"No long march or short march can derail us from our mission of upholding democracy," the Prime Minister said.

Sharif said, "Today the Chinese president is in India, when he was supposed to be here, in Pakistan."