Pakistani police on Thursday finally registered a murder case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz, key cabinet members and senior officials for their alleged role in the killing of 14 supporters of Tahir-ul-Qadri here, meeting a major demand of the fiery cleric.
Although Minister and close aide of the Prime Minister, Pervaiz Rashid on Wednesday had said that the government would not register the FIR against the Premier and others unless Mr. Qadri ended his sit-in in Islamabad, on the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order the police had to register the case against the 21 persons.
“The FIR has been registered on the order of the LHC,” Punjab police spokesperson Nabila Ghazanfar confirmed to PTI.
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However, the cleric was not satisfied with the government’s concession, saying “I do not accept this FIR, until the Terrorism Act is included in it.”
For the second time in three days, Pakistan’s powerful Army Chief Raheel Sharif on Thursday met the Prime Minister to discuss the over two weeks-long political turmoil.
The Prime Minister and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) discussed security matters and the uncertainty created by the ongoing protests in the country, sources said.
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Amid mounting pressure from the protesters, Mr. Sharif also chaired a high-level meeting in the capital to discuss the current political crisis, media reports said.
It was decided in the meeting that neither the Premier nor the Chief Minister of Punjab province Shahbaz will step down and the federal and provincial assemblies will also not be dissolved, Dawn News reported.
During the meeting, Mr. Sharif also said he along with other Ministers named in the FIR, will extend full cooperation in investigations into the Model Town incident.
Pakistan’s Army Chief General Raheel Sharif is mediating in the fortnight-long political crisis, opposition leaders said on Thursday.
‘24 hours for mediation’
Mr. Qadri told thousands of followers camped outside the Parliament building: “The Pakistan Army chief has officially asked us if it will be acceptable to the Azadi [freedom] march if he becomes a mediator and guarantor.” He added the army had asked for “24 hours for mediation”.
The protest’s other leader, cricket hero turned politician Imran Khan, confirmed the move in a separate speech. “General Raheel has asked us to resolve the issue through talks,” he said. “I want to tell you all that I will not disappoint you. The talks have already started,” he added.
The announcement will further fuel speculation that the army could use the crisis to re-assert its dominance over civilian government, with which it has several disagreements.