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Sunday, November 03, 2019, 17:15
Pakistani Islamists await deadline they set for PM to quit
By Associated Press
Sunday, November 03, 2019, 17:15 By Associated Press

Supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party listen to their leaders during an anti-government march and gather in Islamabad, Pakistan, Nov 2, 2019. (ANJUM NAVEED / AP)

ISLAMABAD — Tens of thousands of Islamists at a protest camp in Pakistan's capital are awaiting a deadline set by their leader calling for the prime minister to resign.

Firebrand cleric Maulana Fazlur Rehman led a caravan of supporters to Islamabad last week in a bid to pressure Imran Khan to step down, calling him an "illegitimate" ruler.

READ MORE: Pakistani protesters rally to demand PM Khan's resignation

Rehman has hinted he could direct his partisans to march on the seat of Pakistan's government and force Khan's resignation. 

Radical cleric and leader of Islamist party 'Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam' Maulana Fazlur Rehman, center, waves to his supporters during an anti-government march, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Nov 1, 2019. (ANJUM NAVEED / AP)

Khan says he has no plans of quitting.

ALSO READ: New premier Imran Khan pledges to restore Pakistan's economy

Pakistani authorities further strengthened security around the camp in the lead-up to Sunday night's deadline. That includes walls of shipping containers blocking roads leading into and out of the protest area, as well as deploying riot police and paramilitary forces.

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