In Pakistan, at least eight persons have been reportedly killed and 308 others injured as clashes erupted between police and protesters in Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

The Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Tahir ul Qadri, the co- organizer of the protest, claimed that his party's seven workers were killed and 75 others injured, while another co-organizer the chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf said his one worker was killed and scores of others injured in clashes on Saturday night.

However, a section of the Pakistani media put the death toll at seven, although the figure could not be confirmed. Police opened fire and used tear gas and lathi charged the protesters led by Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri, which had laid seige to key buildings such as the National Assembly and Supreme Court.

Close to midnight, turmoil prevailed in the heart of Islamabad after a number of demonstrators refused to disperse from the protest site. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel are deployed blocking all the roads leading to the PM residence.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Chief vowed to lead the march to the PM House and asked his supporters to follow him. Khan's announcement came soon after a similar decision byQadri. As tension mounted, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Lahore. A late night government announcement categorically ruled out Sharif's resignation.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said few thousand marchers will not be allowed to overrun the mandate of millions of Pakistani people. Talking to a private TV channel in Lahore yesterday, he said the ongoing sit-ins of two parties in Islamabad have affected public life and the national economy. He said due to these sit-ins two heads of states postponed their visits to Islamabad while he himself could not attend the oath taking ceremony of Turkish President.

Nawaz Sharif said the Chinese President is due to visit Islamabad shortly to launch a number of mega projects for the development of Pakistan but if the sit-ins continue this important visit could also be postponed.

He said National Assembly has passed a resolution that no conspiracy against democracy will be allowed to succeed and the government is determined to implement this resolution as it is the voice of the people.