Where does the religious preacher and theologian want to take Pakistan?
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has compared firebrand cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to the Pope while ridiculing him for wearing a similar headgear, earning the wrath of the country's Christians who demanded an apology from him for his "provocative" remarks.
With influential cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri descending on Islamabad with swarms of his supporters, Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday lobbied with top political leaders, including Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif, to uphold the democratic system.
Pakistan will hold general election by May 16 after the national and provincial assemblies are dissolved on completing their five-year term, a senior minister announced on Sunday.
Days after he angered Christians by comparing fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to the Pope, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik met a delegation of the minority community's leaders and extended "heart-felt apologies" for hurting their feelings by his "uncalled for" remarks.
Thousands of protesters led by Canada-returned cleric Tahir ul-Qadri, rallied in Islamabad for the third day in a row on Wednesday, giving the government time till tonight to quit and dissolve the national and provincial assemblies to pave the way for electoral reforms.
Fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who recently led a protest against the Pakistan government to push for electoral reforms, on Thursday approached the supreme court to seek the restructuring of the election commission.
Pakistan Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim has called off a scheduled visit to India to attend a business meet later in January, against the backdrop of tensions between the two countries over ceasefire violations along the Line of Control.
The Pakistan government on Thursday agreed to appoint a caretaker prime minister by consensus ahead of the next general election as part of a deal struck with fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to end his protest near parliament that had put intense pressure on the country's fragile coalition.
The Pakistan government on Thursday formed a four-member committee to hold talks with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri shortly after he announced a fresh deadline for action on his demands for the government to resign and to dissolve the national and provincial assemblies.
Against the backdrop of demands by fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri for dissolving Parliament and forming a caretaker government, Pakistan's Supreme Court and Election Commission on Tuesday said there should be no delay in holding the next general election scheduled for this year.
Cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri on Thursday gave the Pakistan government a 90-minute deadline to act on his demands to quit and dissolve the national and provincial assemblies amidst increasing signs that support for his protest was dwindling.
Amid protests by cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri for the dissolution of Parliament, the Pakistan government on Wednesday said it is determined to complete its five-year term and to hold the polls by May 15.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who is leading thousands of supporters in a protest demanding the ouster of the Pakistan government, after police here registered a case against him.
The United States on Friday cautioned its citizens in Pakistan to keep a low profile and avoid large gatherings ahead of a planned rally by cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who has been pressuring the government to carry our electoral reforms.
Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, a former Pakistani diplomat who is the founder of formidable Minhaj-ul-Quran movement, unreservedly condemned terrorist attacks and suicide bombers and urged the Muslim world to take a firm stand against those who bring Islam to disrepute.
Canada-based anti-government cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, his sons and two others of Pakistan Awami Tehrik party were on Thursday declared "proclaimed offenders" by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court for not appearing in a case of arson and vandalism here despite court summons against them.
Amid high drama, Canada-based divisive cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri returned to Pakistan on Monday after authorities diverted his Islamabad-bound flight to Lahore fearing unrest in the capital, as clashes between his supporters and the police left many injured.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri have been booked under the anti-terrorist act for attempting to attack Pakistan's parliament.
Pakistan's anti-government protesters had a quiet day in Islamabad's high security area where they have been camping demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation, even as opposition leader Imran Khan vowed to continue the sit-in until goals achieved.
Amid Pakistan Army's mediation efforts, protesters have stepped up pressure on the embattled government with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri setting yet another deadline of 24 hours for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to quit.
Pakistan's political crisis deepened on Monday with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri giving a fresh 48-hour ultimatum to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down after a former top election commission official backed protesters' allegations of rigging in last year's polls.
Mounting pressure on embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, opposition leader Imran Khan on Sunday vowed to fight till death and asked Pakistanis to rebel against the illegal regime after two persons were killed and about 450 others injured in police crackdown on protesters.
The cleric vowed to seek justice for 14 of his supporters killed in a police raid last year.
Negotiations between the embattled Pakistan government and protesters on Monday made "some progress" even as opposition leader Imran Khan stuck to his demand of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation to end the 26-day political impasse that has paralysed the nation.
The anti-government protests in Pakistan entered the ninth day on Friday amidst serious differences between the negotiators and the protest leaders, who are demanding nothing less than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation as a pre-condition for talks.
One of the two anti-government protest leaders in Pakistan on Saturday said that he has suspended talks with the Pakistan Muslim League-N government following a crackdown in Islamabad on demonstrators demanding ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Senior ministers of Pakistan's ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz party on Wednesday rallied in Parliament in support of embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and dismissed demands for his resignation by protest leaders Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri.
Fresh controversy erupted after Pakistan's powerful Army Chief met Premier Nawaz Sharif on Monday to discuss ways to resolve the deepening political crisis with media reports claiming that the embattled prime minister was advised to step down during the meeting.
Pakistan's powerful military has expressed serious concern over the prevailing political turmoil in the country with the government of embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif locked in a showdown with protesters.
Describing the protests as a "mutiny against Pakistan", the government on Tuesday turned to Parliament for support as demonstrators continued to put pressure on a defiant Nawaz Sharif to quit as prime minister.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan has said that his supporters will put up a grand show on Saturday to celebrate completion of one month of anti-government protests seeking ouster of embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistan's parliament on Wednesday became the new battleground in the ongoing political turmoil with pro-government leaders and lawmakers of Imran Khan's party accusing each other of undermining democracy, even as protesters returned to the negotiating table.
Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul Qadri has announced to set up 'Awami Parliament' (People's Parliament) on Tuesday, as he refused to meet the PML-N government- appointed committee of lawmakers to hold talks with him.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ouster through illegal means could trigger another round of democracy-related US sanctions against Pakistan, according to a report.
8 people were killed in continuing clashes on Saturday between supporters of influential Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri and security forces with over 1,000 injured across Punjab province, the Canada-based religious leader's party claimed.
Lahore Police on Friday finally registered a murder case against Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz, key cabinet members and senior officials for their role in the killing of 14 supporters of Tahir-ul Qadri in the city, meeting a major demand of the fiery cleric.
Khan, who is believed to have the backing of the powerful military, has vowed to make a 'Naya Pakistan' which would be an Islamic welfare state.
Opposition leader Imran Khan on Sunday again demanded that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif quit for 30 days to allow an independent probe into alleged rigging in last year's polls, hours after the government outrightly rejected the proposal to end the crippling political deadlock.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday decided to meet opposition leader Imran Khan in an effort to end the anti-government protests seeking his ouster, as Pakistan's powerful military called for calm and asked all stakeholders to resolve the impasse through meaningful talks.
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