ISLAMABAD, Aug. 10-- A Pakistani religious leader late Sunday announced that he would lead a "Revolution March" on August 14 to dislodge the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Tahir-ul-Qadri, who leads Pakistan Awami Tehreek, told several of his supporters in the city of Lahore that the "government would not survive beyond this month as the people are fed up with the rulers."
The "revolution march" coincides with another anti-government long march on August 14 when the country will celebrate its Independence Day.
The cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan will lead the long march. He said his supporters will not end the march until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.
The government quickly dismissed Qadri's remarks and accused him of creating anarchy in the country.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said the "so-called revolution and long marches" are conspiracy against democracy and the armed forces.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday, he said Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri want to destabilize the country.
Police in Lahore on Sunday registered a murder case against Qadri after his supporters allegedly beat a police officer to death during protest on Saturday.
At least three police men were killed during clashes between Qadri's members and the police in Punjab province over the past two days, police said. Over 100 were injured.
Qadri claimed that seven of his supporters also lost their lives in police action.
Qadri said the government has blocked roads to stop the people from taking part in protest marches, urging his supporters to break all barriers.
"We will overthrow the government," Qadri said, adding, "We will not come back from Islamabad until we bring a revolution."
In Islamabad the authorities have sealed all routes to the Red Zone which houses foreign missions, key government buildings and important offices.
Army troops have also been deployed at key installations ahead of the marches.
Imran Khan has rejected a dialogue offer by the prime minister and insisted that time for dialogue is over. He claimed that last year's elections had been rigged, the charges rejected by the government and the election authorities.
Tensions have gripped the country due to the standoff between Imran Khan and the government, and some senior leaders are concerned at the looming political crisis.
Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami party Siraj ul Haq has mediated between the government and Imran Khan to end the crisis; however his initiative has not yet produced results.
Haq feared military intervention if political leaders failed to
find out a negotiated settlement of the current situation.
"In Pakistan the army had interfered whenever the political leaders entered into confrontation," the Jamaat leader told reporters in Islamabad on Sunday.
The Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif summoned an emergency meeting of the top commanders on Monday to discuss the overall security situation in the country, sources said.
The military's information wing has only said the "Corps Commanders' Conference will be held tomorrow at the General Headquarters." The brief statement said without giving more details.
The military sources and section of the media however said the current situation and progress in ongoing military operation will also be reviewed in the conference.
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