Pak PM defiant amid protests

Amid mounting pressure from protesters to quit as Pakistan's Prime Minister, a defiant Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday refused to resign saying the country has survived "difficult times" and the current political crisis too shall pass.
Political stalemate has continued for the last two weeks with Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehreek refusing to budge from their demand of the prime minister's resignation over allegations of rigging in last year's general election and killing of 14 PAT supporters in Lahore on June 17.
Sharif expressed hope that this phase will pass and Pakistan will be steered towards prosperity.
"We are not going to be diverted by these things. The journey for the supremacy of Constitution and law in Pakistan will continue with full determination and God willing there will not be any interruption in it," he said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday ordered PTI and PAT protesters to clear the Constitution Avenue which also includes a road in front of the apex court and the Parliament by today.
After making several observations, the court ordered PAT and PTI protesters to clear the way in front of the parliament by today.