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Fresh Clashes Break Out in Pakistan
Clashes Continue Between Antigovernment Crowds, Police as Crisis Threatens Sharif’s Grip on Power
By SAEED SHAH and
QASIM NAUMAN
Updated Sept. 1, 2014 5:14 p.m. ET
Antigovernment protesters on Monday briefly occupied the headquarters of the country’s state television, causing its broadcast to go blank, in a further escalation of the political crisis that is threatening to bring down the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Photo: Getty Images
ISLAMABAD—Fresh clashes between antigovernment protesters and police broke out in the Pakistani capital’s government quarter on Monday, a day after the military warned the administration of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against “further use of force” to quell the spreading unrest.
Pakistan’s military also deployed armed soldiers around government buildings, checking the protesters’ advance on the prime minister’s official residence as darkness fell in Islamabad.
The police, which had been at the forefront of resisting the protesters over the weekend, retreated to the edge of the government quarter.
The renewed violence, which adds to a political crisis that threatens to bring down Mr. Sharif’s government, came as the military denied Monday that it had asked the prime minister to quit or that it was supporting the protesters.
Opposition supporters beat a policeman during antigovernment protests in Islamabad on Monday.Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Some Pakistani media had reported that army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif had advised Mr. Sharif to step down at a meeting that took place Monday.
“Army is an apolitical institution and has expressed its unequivocal support for democracy at numerous occasions. It is unfortunate that Army is dragged into such controversies,” the military said. The military’s spokesman said on Twitter that reports the army chief had asked Mr. Sharif to resign were “baseless.” The prime minister’s office also denied that any such message was conveyed.
“The military would never directly tell the prime minister to resign,” said a security adviser familiar with the military’s thinking. “That would allow him to become a political martyr.”
Aides said the prime minister was determined to resist pressure to resign. The government privately believes that the protesters are supported by the military, in a bid to weaken or oust the prime minister.
Mr. Sharif told a meeting of leaders of other political parties that “he will not resign or go on leave under any pressure,” his office said in a statement.
“The constitution is supreme here, and we will not allow its supremacy to be damaged at any cost,” the statement said.
Earlier Coverage
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Muslim cleric Tahir ul Qadri led thousands of protesters in a march to Islamabad on Aug. 15 for a sit-in in front of Pakistan’s parliament, demanding Mr. Sharif’s resignation and alleging that the ruling party rigged last year’s elections. Mr. Sharif denied fraud allegations and most court challenges to the election’s results had been unsuccessful.
Mr. Khan is pressing for fresh elections, while Mr. Qadri is calling for “revolution.” As a softer alternative, Mr. Khan has suggested that the prime minister leave his office on a “holiday” for a month, while a promised judicial investigation into the election-rigging allegations takes place.
Many analysts believe that even if the prime minister survives for the time being, his influential brother, Shahbaz Sharif, could be made to resign as chief minister of Punjab, the country’s most populous province. In June, police in Punjab opened fire on Mr. Qadri’s headquarters, killing at least 10 of his followers, an action that first ignited the political turmoil.
The Supreme Court may now emerge as the arbitrator of the crisis, lawyers said, with hearings on the issue due on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, three protesters died and more than 500 were injured in clashes with police using tear gas, rubber bullets and baton charges, as the demonstrators had attempted to march on the prime minister’s house.
Earlier Monday, antigovernment protesters briefly occupied the headquarters of the country’s state television, where they smashed equipment and caused its broadcast to go blank for almost an hour. Armed soldiers and paramilitary Rangers forces arrived at the scene by noon local time, prompting the protesters to leave the building. The soldiers surrounded the compound.
Protesters also made further attempts Monday to move toward the prime minister’s official residence, gaining some ground and leading to fresh casualties among both police and protesters, with hospitals reporting that at least one demonstrator was brought in with rubber-bullet injuries.
Parliament, the prime minister’s residence and office, the president’s office, the Supreme Court and ministries are all located in Islamabad’s government quarter. The police forces that were previously deployed around these buildings were replaced Monday with soldiers. Many embassies, including the U.S. Embassy, are located in the area.
Mr. Sharif came to power after a landslide victory in the May 2013 elections. His previous stint in power was ended by a 1999 military coup, and he has been at loggerheads with the country’s powerful military establishment over a series of issues, including the trial of former dictator Pervez Musharraf on treason charges and the civilian government’s attempts to improve relations with India.
Talat Hussain, a leading political talk-show host, said the military’s aim was to “dilute” Mr. Sharif, either by weakening or ousting him. But Mr. Sharif has refused to be shunted out of office, meaning the military would have to stage an outright takeover to remove him, he said.
“Nawaz Sharif is saying you’ll have to drag me out, and with me will go the parliament and the constitution,” said Talat Hussain, a leading political talk-show host.
The armed forces have directly ruled Pakistan for half its 67-year history. Democracy was restored in 2008, after the latest period of military rule. Analysts believe the military, which is battling Taliban and al Qaeda jihadists in the northwest, doesn’t want to directly assume power at this time. A coup would imperil U.S. aid that Washington pegs at some $3 billion a year, U.S. officials say.
The military said the army chief met with his top commanders late Sunday. Afterward, the military advised the government to go back into talks with protest leaders.
“While reaffirming support to democracy, the conference reviewed with serious concern the existing political crisis and the violent turn it has taken, resulting in large-scale injuries and loss of lives,” a statement from the military said. “It was once again reiterated that the situation should be resolved politically without wasting any time and without recourse to violent means.”
