Pakistan army denies involvement in political crisis

Pakistan's powerful army today dismissed "rumours" that it was involved in the political chaos as the country grapples with the ongoing anti-government protests demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

"The army has no connection with the political activity going on in Islamabad," military spokesman Major Asim Saleem Bajwa said, adding that the army had reaffirmed its support to democracy.

Bajwa said the army has nothing to with the current anti-government protests being led by Imran Khan and Tahir-ul Qadri who have been camping in the capital for nearly a month and are demanding Sharif's resignation.

"We regret the rumours that the army scripted the protests," he said.
Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party (PTI) wants Sharif's ouster over alleged rigging in last year's poll which his party lost, while populist cleric Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) wants to bring a revolution in the country.

Both leaders have been agitating since mid-August 14. At least three people have been killed and over 550 injured in violence during the protests.

Several rounds of talks have failed to resolve the crisis as the protesters want nothing less than Sharif's resignation, a demand ruled out by the government.