Pakistani Parliament Throws Weight Behind Embattled Pm

Both the lower and upper houses of Pakistan's parliament declared their support for beleaguered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday, after almost three weeks of protests demanding his resignation. 



A joint-session of the two houses was held even while hundreds of stick-wielding protesters laid siege to parts of parliament. 



"Change of government on the mobs' pressure is unacceptable. We will never let it happen," said an emotionally charged Chaudry Aitzaz Ahsan, the opposition leader in the Senate, the upper house. "We are not standing alongside the prime minister but with the parliament and the democracy."



The head of religious party Jamiat Ulema Islam, and former opposition leader, Fazal-ur-Rehman criticized the "mysterious hands" behind the crisis.



"Conspiracies are being hatched to wrap up democracy. But I announce here that neither prime minister will resign nor will he go on leave," said Rehman, referring to a demand by protest leader Imran Khan that Sharif either resign or go on leave while allegations of electoral fraud in last year's elections are investigated. 



Rehman also indirectly criticized the army for warning the government not to forcibly remove the protesters. 



"By advising the government not to use force against violators of law and constitution, what kind of message you are sending us?" said Rehman. "Protesters are attacking and shooting the police, and raising slogans of long-live army. Are the two (army and police) representing different states?"



The army, which is constitutionally obliged to protect state property, has been criticized for not stopping protesters from raiding government buildings and occupying the offices of state-owned television channel PTV on Monday. 



– Supreme Court steps in



In an apparent last-ditch effort to end the political standoff, Pakistan's Supreme Court summoned the head of all political parties represented in the parliament Tuesday. 



The court requested 11 major political parties, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and the main protest party, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, to submit proposals over what role the court should play in resolving the three-week long crisis. 



Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have already refused the request, saying it was not within the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to mediate. 



Justice Saqib Nisar said the court was the only institution that could act as a "neutral umpire" in line with the constitution, a response to Khan's indirect reference that army would mediate. 



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