Pakistan’s army has stepped in to mediate between the government and opposition leaders who have headed weeks of mass protests.<br /><br />Prime minister Nawaz Sharif is accused of corruption and election fraud. <br /><br />Opposition leader and Cleric Tahir al-Qadri is one of many calling for his resignation.<br /><br />“I want to thank the army chief, and the Pakistan army as an institution,” said Qadri, “for coming forward to find a peaceful solution to this crisis.”<br /><br />Qadri wants Sharif to face trial over the killing of 14 of the cleric’s supporters in clashes with the police in the eastern city of Lahore in June. <br /><br />The army chief wants the stand-off resolved in 24 hours.<br /><br />Opposition leader and former cricketer Imran Khan has also called for Sharif to quit. <br /><br />“I am now going for the negotiations. And God wiling, we will either have celebrations here tomorrow, or this movement will need to take a new turn,” said Sharif.<br /><br />The protests have sparked fears of unrest in Pakistan which is battling Taliban militants and has a history of political turmoil and military rule.
