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Pakistan parliament meets over political crisis as opposition protesters remain camped outside

Associated Press
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Pakistani paramilitary troops stand guard during a clash between police and protesters in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. Anti-government protesters stormed Pakistan’s state television building Monday, forcing the channel briefly off the air as they clashed with police and pushed closer to the prime minister’s residence. The violence comes as part of the mass demonstrations led by cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri and opposition politician Imran Khan that demand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resign. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

Police beat a protester during clashes in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. Anti-government protesters stormed Pakistan’s state television building Monday, forcing the channel briefly off the air as they clashed with police and pushed closer to the prime minister’s residence. The violence comes as part of the mass demonstrations led by Muslim cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri and opposition politician Imran Khan that demand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resign. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

A Pakistani protester picks up a tear gas canister to throw back towards police during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. Anti-government protesters stormed Pakistan’s state television building Monday, forcing the channel briefly off the air as they clashed with police and pushed closer to the prime minister’s residence. The violence comes as part of the mass demonstrations led by cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri and opposition politician Imran Khan that demand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resign. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

Pakistan's parliament has convened over the political crisis roiling the country as thousands of anti-government protesters remain camped out in front of the parliament building, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Tuesday session of both houses — the National Assembly and the Senate — is an attempt to rally support behind the prime minister.

Sharif called the session after weekend clashes between protesters and police left three people dead and hundreds wounded.

The demonstrators are camped outside the parliament building, sleeping in tents on lawns and refusing to give up their demands.

The rallies are led by cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri. They allege widespread fraud in the May 2013 election that brought Sharif to power.