Pakistan Stand-Off: Imran Khan's Party Begins Talks to Resolve Crisis

Islamabad: After week-long protests, rallies, threats and picketing at the political heart of Islamabad, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, finally came to the table with government negotiators to resolve the crisis that threatens Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's 14-month-old government. (Impasse in Islamabad May Soon End, Talks Begin With Imran Khan's Party)

The negotiators, several prominent ministers among them, met the representatives of the PTI at Islamabad's Mariott Hotel in the early hours of Thursday. The government will examine the PTI's six-point demand before resuming talks in the morning. PM Sharif is expected to address Pakistan's National Assembly later in the day. (Pakistan Social Media Abuzz with Pro and Anti-Government Debates)

The demands include the resignation of PM Sharif and his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, installation of an interim government, electoral reforms prior to fresh elections, re-elections for all assemblies, bringing culprits of alleged 2013 vote fraud to book and an audit of the government's expenses. ('Resign Or Else...,' Imran Khan Sets Deadline for Pakistan PM Sharif)

Prior to the talks, in his address to his followers, Mr Khan had struck a defiant note, insisting Mr Sharif must go before he would participate in negotiations. To that end, he said he was even ready to "sleep alone in a container."

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But regarding his promised storming of Mr Sharif's home if he did not resign by the evening, Mr Khan apparently had a change of heart. "I thought I would take you all to the Prime Minister's house today. (But) his heart is already in bad shape. If I ask my followers to go in that direction and he has heart attack - I cannot do that," he said. (Pakistan's Supreme Court Summons Imran Khan and Cleric Qadri)

Reuters reported that Mr Khan had backtracked after Pakistan's military called for a political solution to the crisis. The army is already guarding the Red Zone, the political and diplomatic enclave of Islamabad. A tweet from military spokesman General Asim Bajwa has called upon stakeholders to resolve impasse through "dialogue in larger national and public interest." (Will Storm Nawaz Sharif's House if he Doesn't Quit, Says Imran Khan)

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Earlier on Wednesday evening, Mr Sharif had initiated talks with populist cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri through a cross-party delegation. After the talks, though Mr Qadri asserted he would not compromise on his demands, he added, "I have always been ready for dialogue". (Pakistan Crisis Puts Army Back in the Driving Seat)

Mr Qadri and Mr Khan claim that the last year's general election - in which Mr Sharif's PML-N had won a landslide victory - was rigged.

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The election was rated as free and credible by international observers.