... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said, warning demonstrators against storming government buildings.
Dashing chances of a peace deal between the government and protest leaders Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is
Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
and Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri
...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
, protesters stormed the state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
building and have also tried to march on Prime Minister Sharif's residence in central Islamabad.
Later, police fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them.
Asif told Rooters in an interview at his house hours after the storming of the state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
building the government would not hesitate to enforce its writ and was considering cracking down against those attacking state institutions.
"If not mass arrests, selective use of force can be used," Asif said, describing one option the government may decide to exercise following a meeting between PM Sharif and his top aides.
"The writ of the state must be enforced. We hope to make a decisive move sometimes later today, not in the evening but even before that," he said. "I personally feel that the next few hours will determine the course of coming events."
Commentators have been divided over what Nawaz Sharif could do to defuse the crisis, and Asif's remarks confirmed that a crackdown was on the cards as the government debates its further actions.
Asif, considered to be in favour of talks, is one of a growing number of members of PM Sharif's cabinet who believe it is time for tougher action against thousands of protesters massed in Islamabad to demand the prime minister step down.
Rounds of negotiations have failed to end the crisis that has gripped Pakistain for more than two weeks, with protest leaders saying they will not back down unless Sharif resigns.
The army is expected to play a key role in how the conflict unfolds but it has not directly intervened, saying the crisis had to be solved politically.