ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) – Pakistan’s powerful army said yesterday any further use of force to resolve an escalating political crisis would only worsen the situation, after weeks of protests demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation turned violent.
Peaceful anti-government demonstrations spilled over into deadly confrontation overnight after thousands of protesters tried to storm Sharif’s residence. Police responded with teargas and rubber bullets. At least three people were killed and more than 200 wounded, further angering protest leaders.
Activists demanding Sharif’s resignation have camped outside government offices for more than two weeks but it was the first time violence broke out as protesters, some armed with sticks and wearing gas masks, tried to break through police lines.
Army chiefs held an emergency meeting in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Sunday night to discuss the crisis, prompting speculation that the military could take decisive action to end the crisis in a nation where power has usually changed hands via coups rather than elections.
But in a brief statement, the army reaffirmed its commitment to democracy and said the crisis had to be solved politically.
“Further use of force will only aggravate the problem. It was once again reiterated that the situation should be resolved politically without wasting any time and without recourse to violent means,” it said.
Small skirmishes continued into Sunday, with police occasionally firing teargas, but the crowd massing outside parliament appeared peaceful on Sunday night, with some dancing or sleeping on the grass.
Smaller protests were also reported in the city of Lahore, Sharif’s political power base, and other parts of Pakistan.
How the crisis ends and whether Sharif survives ultimately lies in the military’s hands in a country ruled by generals for half of its history.
