Islamabad:
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has ruled out the possibility of using force to disperse cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri's followers who are staging a sit-in near Parliament.
Mr Zardari told a Geo News TV host over the phone that no use of force would be undertaken against the marchers in Islamabad. The clarification came when speculation was rife over the Pakistan government's next line of action to deal with the massive sit-in in the capital.
This comes a day after Mr Zardari's spokesman said yesterday that the Pakistan President is monitoring the fast changing political developments in Islamabad and is ready to face "any situation".
Denying reports that Mr Zardari is planning to leave for Dubai to avoid the uncertain political situation in the country, his spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the President has reiterated government's resolve that elections will be held on time and not be delayed in any case, Dawn News reported.
Mr Babar also said that Mr Zardari is extending his stay in Karachi, but it had nothing to do with Mr Qadri.
"The President will follow his own schedule. Qadri's presence in Islamabad or anywhere else is not a factor in the determination of president's schedule," he said.
Mr Qadri, a Pakistani-born Canadian cleric and Thehrik-e-Minhajul Quran leader, has been staging a protest along with his tens of thousands of supporters here since Tuesday to seek ouster of the government, dissolution of Parliament and a corruption-free Pakistan.
Mr Zardari told a Geo News TV host over the phone that no use of force would be undertaken against the marchers in Islamabad. The clarification came when speculation was rife over the Pakistan government's next line of action to deal with the massive sit-in in the capital.
This comes a day after Mr Zardari's spokesman said yesterday that the Pakistan President is monitoring the fast changing political developments in Islamabad and is ready to face "any situation".
Denying reports that Mr Zardari is planning to leave for Dubai to avoid the uncertain political situation in the country, his spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the President has reiterated government's resolve that elections will be held on time and not be delayed in any case, Dawn News reported.
Mr Babar also said that Mr Zardari is extending his stay in Karachi, but it had nothing to do with Mr Qadri.
"The President will follow his own schedule. Qadri's presence in Islamabad or anywhere else is not a factor in the determination of president's schedule," he said.
Mr Qadri, a Pakistani-born Canadian cleric and Thehrik-e-Minhajul Quran leader, has been staging a protest along with his tens of thousands of supporters here since Tuesday to seek ouster of the government, dissolution of Parliament and a corruption-free Pakistan.
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