Pakistan opposition chief Imran Khan warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would storm the Prime Minister House if he refuses to resign by Wednesday evening.

Protesters of the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek on Tuesday marched toward the capital's Red Zone, an area that houses key government institutions including the PM House, Parliament House, President House and Supreme Court.

Like Us on Facebook

Police forces had initially clashed with protesters but pulled back after Sharif ordered against the use of force.

The government wants to avoid confrontation, said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar on Wednesday.

By Wednesday morning, protesters had breached the Red Zone and camped out in front of the Parliament House where Khan threatened to enter the PM House unless Sharif steps down.

Asim Bajwa, spokesman for Inter-Services Public Relations, warned protesters against the vandalism and destruction of buildings in the Red Zone, saying that the institutions - as symbols of the State - must be respected.

PAT chairman Tahirul Qadri called for the Prime Minister's and chief minister Shahbaz Sharif's resignation.

He added that the PATs would assemble in front of the Parliament House but had no plans of storming the PM House, adding that the group had no intentions of capturing or destroying government buildings.

The military on Wednesday called on both sides to practice restraint and resolve the crisis through meaningful dialogue.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Times cited a government source who revealed that Pakistan's military had assured Sharif last week that there would be no coup but that he must "share space with the army."

To "share space with the army" would mean that strategic and security policies would be left in the army's control.

Sources said Sharif had been concerned the civil unrest was being manipulated by the army and feared it would attempt to sieze power once the situation escalates.

Observers note that if the protests die down, Sharif's position would already have been weakened, adding that he may have to accede to the military on certain issues he may want to handle such as Taliban and Afghanistan crises.

"The biggest loser will be Nawaz, cut down to size both by puny political rivals and the powerful army," a government official said.

Nevertheless, Sharif's supporters said the Prime Minister's past experiences, particularly when he was jailed then later exiled, has taught him to share power in order to survive.

"This is not the old Nawaz, the wild confrontationalist," Sharif's adviser said,

"This is the new Nawaz who has learnt the hard way that politics is about living to fight another day."

TagsImran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Istanbul Red Zone, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, PTI, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, PAT, Chaudhry Nisar, Asim Bajwa, Tahirul Qadi