Pakistan Opposition Protesters March Towards Pm's House

Thousands of stick-wielding anti-government marchers in Pakistan ran over barricades late Saturday night to reach the prime minister's residence to ramp up pressure on PM Nawaz Sharif to step down.



Police fired teargas shells to stop scores of angry supporters of firebrand preacher Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehrik party from entering a government building near the prime minister's house, an Anadolu Agency reporter said.



It has been reported that thousands of party supporters, many of them wearing gas masks and holding sticks, were standing in front of the security forces. Many of them were covering their faces with masks as security forces continued to fire teargas shells.



At least seven people including two policemen have been injured during the incidents.



Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters that Dr Qadri, who returned from Canada in June to bring about a "revolution" to topple the current "corrupt" political system, was protected by a human shield of over 200 women and children.



"Security forces are showing restraint to avert loss of human life as hundreds of women and children are among the protesters," he said.



The prime minister's house is being guarded by army troops.



Qadri's partner in the ongoing protest, former cricketer Imran Khan, is also following him along with his 8,000 supporters to stage a sit-in outside the PM's house.



PM Sharif's political secretary Dr. Asif Kirmani said in a statement that Mr Sharif would not resign.



"There is no question of Mr. Prime Minister's resignation. He will not resign on the demand of a few thousands people," he said.



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