The protesters had stormed the TV building forcing the channel briefly off the air as they clashed with police and pushed further into a sprawling government complex in the capital, Islamabad, in an effort to reach the prime minister's residence.
Opposition leaders Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
, a hero cricket player turned politician, and 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...
, a firebrand
...
firebrandsare noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments...
holy man, have been at the forefront of the protests for weeks demanding the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... 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...
to quit.
Protesters and police clashed in various areas of the city's Red Zone, a sprawling complex of government buildings and grassy lawns in the center of Islamabad. The protesters, armed with clubs and many wearing gas masks, hurled rocks at the coppers. Five coppers, including a senior Islamabad police chief, and three protesters were taken to hospital, bleeding.
Sharif, who was toppled by the army in a 1999 coup, has refused to quit while protest leaders have rejected his offers of talks, creating a dangerous deadlock.
Clashes broke out again early on Monday and the state PTV channel and its English-language PTV World service were taken off the air after protesters stormed its headquarters.
A PTV source told Rooters the protesters had occupied the main control room and smashed some equipment. Television pictures showed uniformed members of a paramilitary force and soldiers walking calmly into the building.
A Rooters witness said the soldiers escorted protesters out and placed the building under their protection. There were no signs of violence and the protesters were seen leaving peacefully. The station later came back on the air.
In the nuclear-armed nation where power has often changed hands through military coups rather than elections, the army is bound to play a key role in how the conflict unfolds but it has not directly intervened, apart from meeting the protagonists and calling on them to show restraint.
Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif met Prime Minister Sharif on Monday, but it was unclear what they discussed.
The army chief, who is not related to the prime minister, late Sunday urged the government and opposition leaders to resolve the crisis through talks and warned against the use of force to end the demonstrations.
Protesters have camped out in Islamabad since mid-August, paralyzing life in the centre of the capital and creating massive traffic jams. The protest site, where many sleep rough every night, is littered with rubbish and reeks of human waste.