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World

Pakistani minister urges opposition leaders to back off their demand for PM's resignation

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A supporter of Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan uses her cell phone to take picture of Khan during a protest near the parliament building in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Muslim cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri are besieging parliament in the capital to pressure Sharif to resign over alleged election fraud. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

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    A child sleeps as her mother claps during a protest staged by Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan near the parliament building in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Muslim cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri are besieging parliament in the capital to pressure Sharif to resign over alleged election fraud. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

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    Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, center, gestures to his supporters during a protest near the parliament building in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Muslim cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri are besieging parliament in the capital to pressure Sharif to resign over alleged election fraud. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

ISLAMABAD – A Cabinet minister has urged Pakistan's two key opposition figures leading mass rallies outside parliament to back off their demand for the prime minister's resignation in ongoing talks with the government.

Railways Minister Saad Rafiq says the two opposition leaders — cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri — should not insist on Nawaz Sharif stepping down.

Rafiq says authorities want a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Tens of thousands of Khan and Qadri supporters have been rallying for nearly two weeks in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, demanding Sharif resign over alleged election fraud.

Government negotiators are trying to convince the two to end their protest.

Rafiq on Wednesday also urged Qadri to withdraw his 48-hour "deadline," which expires later in the day and which the cleric set for Sharif's resignation.