Pakistani police used teargas to disperse anti-government demonstrators in the capital Islamabad on Sunday (August 31) as pressure mounts on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.
Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan called on his supporters on Sunday to take to the streets across the country after at least three people were killed in clashes between protesters and police in the capital overnight.
The violence erupted late on Saturday (August 30) after thousands of protesters tried to march on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence, prompting police to fire tear gas to stop them.
Pakistan has been gripped by unrest for more than two weeks, with protest leaders Imran Khan and Tahir ul-Qadri saying they will not back back down unless Sharif resigns.
But, on Saturday (August 30) Sharif once again said he would not go.
Teargas was again fired on Sunday as protesters continued to stay in Islamabad's "Red Zone."
At least three people were killed and 200 wounded overnight, hospital officials said.
Local television stations reported several journalists were among the injured.
The violence broke out despite the army's public intervention in the conflict. How the crisis unfolds ultimately lies in the military's hands in a country ruled by generals for half of its entire history.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, army chiefs were expected to meet later on Sunday to discuss the crisis, prompting speculation that the army could take decisive action to end the crisis.
Sharif, who swept to office in the country's first democratic transition of power last year, has firmly resisted opposition calls for him to resign while agreeing to meet their other demands such as an investigation into alleged fraud during last year's election.
Himself ousted in a coup in 1999 during an earlier stint in office, Sharif still has a difficult relationship with the army. Even if he survives this crisis, he will remain significantly weakened and sidelined on key issues such as foreign policy and security.
Opposition leader and cleric Tahir ul-Qadri, thousands of whose supporters have rallied alongside Imran Khan, said protests would not subside unless Sharif resigned.
REUTERS