(20 Aug 2014) Jubilant anti-government demonstrators in Pakistan claimed victory on Wednesday after tearing down barricades and occupying a key road outside Parliament, where they are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over alleged voting fraud.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sharif's party said he would not quit, while the country's powerful army called for a negotiated settlement.
The twin protests led by a famous cricketer-turned-politician and a popular cleric have brought tens of thousands of people into the streets, raising fears of unrest in the nuclear-armed US ally with a history of military coups and dictatorships.
Imran Khan, the cricket star leading one of the protests, has called on demonstrators not to enter Parliament but warned he would lead his supporters into the premier's office if Sharif does not step down by Wednesday evening.
Sharif's office is located near the Parliament, and authorities have deployed police, paramilitary rangers and troops to guard it.
Khan, who heads parliament's third-largest political bloc, and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who enjoys a wide religious following, have led twin rallies calling on Sharif to step down.
However, a peaceful and celebratory atmosphere prevailed outside the Parliament on Wednesday, a day after tens of thousands of protesters entered the high-security Red Zone.
Dancing to the beat of drums, protesters chanted anti-government slogans and said Sharif's government would soon fall.

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