Why Imran Khan, Qadri flexing muscle against Nawaz Sharif Government: Explained

For Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif, these days are really a tough one. The civilian Government of Pakistan is in the midst of both external and internal pressure.

While India has pushed Pakistan to margin by cancelling the talk, the opposition parties are hell bent for the resignation of elected Government in Pakistan.

Here is the complete detail why Nawaz Sharif is on tough wicket these days.

Opposition parties are adamant for Sharif's resignation

• Opposition leaders of Pakistan Imran Khan and cleric Tahirul Qadri want civilian Government to resign.

• They have threatened to move into Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's house and given him time till Wednesday time for stepping down.

• Though all stakeholders like government, opposition members and the army has appealed them to solve the crisis with talk but they are not ready to buckle down.

• Stepping up the ante, both Pakistan Awami Tehreek led by Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) headed by Imran Khan marched into Red Zone on Tuesday, pushing Sharif Government on the back-foot.

• Exhorting the huge gathering PTI chief Khan said, "Promise me, if something were to happen to me, you will take revenge from Nawaz Sharif".

• Red Zone is the politically hi-fi area which houses some of the important government buildings of Pakistan including the Supreme Court, embassies, Parliament, Prime Minister House and President House.

Why they are protesting?
• They are protesting for vote rigging case in last year's polls, where Nawaz Sharif had got thumping victory.

• In a historic poll, Sharif's party PML-N had won 190 out of 342 seats besides and Khan's PTI got 34 seats.

• Though International observers rated the May 2013 general election as free and credible one but Opposition leaders Khan and Qadri are not convinced at all.

• The incumbent Prime Minister last week had set up a judicial commission to investigate the allegations but Khan rejected the proposal ourightly.

Is protest being orchestrated by military set up?

• Though there is no such confirmed report but coup might take place in near future. Pakistan is the witness of three Military coups till now.

• According to a Reuter report, fearing such upheaval, Sharif last week had sent two emissaries to the army chief. The motive was to know what exactly was cooking in military corridor.

• It was assured to Nawaz Shariff that there is no such plan but civilian Government has to consult Army for each and every move.

• This mean that Shariff will be acted as subservient of Army chief and all important decisions like diplomacy with India, fight with Taliban and Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, everything will now have military's dominance.

• On the condition of maintaining anonymity, a government minister said, "The biggest loser will be Nawaz, cut down to size both by puny political rivals and the powerful army. "From this moment on, he'll always be looking over his shoulder."

Why this tussle between civilian government and army?
• Pakistani generals are angered about Pervez Musharraf trial for treason decision by Sharif Government.

• Then he also irked the military set up for pro- India stand and crushing of Taliban insurgents.

What Government is saying?

• Premier Sharif is accusing that nation's perennially fragile democratic system is being disturbed when country is facing tougher challenge like Taliban militancy and a flagging economy.

• Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, "PM just told me he has ordered the police not to use any kind of force against the protesters as women & children are in the front rows".

• "They have women and children with them. So the government has decided to show maximum restraint. They want dead bodies but we will not give them the opportunity despite provocations", said Pervaiz Rashid, who is Information minister in the Pakistan Government.

India close the door of talk
• Though, cornered Pakistan High Commissioner on Wednesday justified his meetings with Kashmiri separatists, giving the reason that opinion of all stakeholders are needed to get a solution of the Kashmir issue, but they themselves know that what they did was not right.

• India on Tuesday had cancelled the talk after defying India's warning Abdul Basit met Kashmiri separatist leader in New Delhi.

• Undeterred by India's browbeat; Basit again met separatist leaders Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz umar Farooq.

• Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry of India -- Syed Akbaruddin finally announced, "It was underlined that the Pakistani High Commissioner's meetings with these so-called leaders of the Hurriyat undermine the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by Prime Minister Modi in May on his very first day in office".

• He also said, "Under present circumstances, it seems no useful purpose will be served by the Foreign Secretary visiting Islamabad, therefore the visit stands cancelled."

• India scored politically on diplomatic front on whole issue as India can say now that look we had tried our best to maintain cordial relation but Pakistan frequently challenged our patience.

• And repeated ceasefire violations and bonhomie with separatist leaders are big proof of that.