Protesters violate government deadline as sit-in enters its fourth day

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ISLAMABAD: The sit-in at Islamabad has entered its fourth day as protesters violated a deadline given by the government to vacate the Red Zone by midnight on Tuesday.

A delegations representing the government negotiated with the protesters all night long.  At four in the morning a satisfied Professor Ashraf Jilani, who represented the protesters, told media that many of their demands were being considered by the government.

The next round of talks is expected to take place at 12 noon today.

Several rounds of talks between the government and protesters have taken place since yesterday. In the first round of talks the administration and cleric Ovais Noorani met Ijaz Qadri and Professor Ashraf at Punjab House.

A second round of talks was held at federal minister Khwaja Saad Rafique’s residence.

The government wants protesters to disperse without it having to use violence.

Meanwhile, in Karachi supporters in solidarity with the Islamabad protest have staged a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi, blocking the flow of traffic through M A Jinnah Road for three days now.