DHAKA: 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.

In a late night development, Qadri’s camp was visited by a delegation of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PAT) led by vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who convinced the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief to delay his next move.

Following the meeting, the first direct contact between the two groups since they together started the march on August 14, Qadri set a 24-hour deadline for the prime minister to step down.

Qadri has set a number of deadlines since camping outside the Parliament about two weeks ago.

After their meeting, Qureshi also addressed the PAT crowd and reiterated his party’s request to postpone further action, which the protesters did not agree to. At this, Qadri asked his followers to give their assent to the proposal.

He said PAT and had a number of views in common and shared the same struggle, cautioning supporters that the government intended to create a split between the two, reports The Times of India.

BDST: 1514 HRS, AUG 30, 2014