Protesters "seize" PTV office, Army regain control

The protesters also stormed into the secretariat building in the capital.

Later, Pakistan Army regained control, cleared hundreds of protesters out of the PTV building and resumed the transmissions.

According to Pakistan’s Geo TV, demonstrators stormed PTV building on Monday morning and occupied the building for around half an hour. 

Transmission of the PTV news channel was cut minutes after an anchor announced demonstrators had entered the building and "besieged" staff.

Quoting PTV officials, Geo TV said, protesters vandalized valuable transmission equipment at the office and ransacked the central news room and master control room.

Soon, a contingent of the Pakistan Army and paramilitary force arrived at the PTV building to control the situation.

They drove the protesters out of the building and the state broadcaster was able to resume its transmission under Army’s security.

Pakistan Army also made announcements for calm and urged protesters to carry on with their protest outside, after which the demonstrators left

The Pakistan Govt. has blamed opposition leader Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for the ransacking of PTV.

But the party termed the attack unacceptable. Imran Khan has denied the allegations.

PTI chairman tweeted that his party had not attacked PTV. He said on the micro-blogging site, “PTI did not attack PTV and we totally disown this action. It damages our cause. We have always been peaceful & unarmed.”

PTI leader Shireen Mazari called for the arrest of those individuals who attacked the PTV office, as reported in Pak media.

Meanwhile, Geo TV reported that demonstrators broke into the Pakistan Secretariat area which houses government ministries as well as Sharif's official residence.

Braving heavy rain, the protestors armed with rocks and wooden clubs clashed with police after breaking the main gate of the secretariat.

The head of Islamabad police and another senior police officer were lightly wounded in the clashes, media reported.

Recent political crisis has shaken the country for the past two weeks.

PM Nawaz Sharif’s rule has come under scanner after the nationwide protest started against him, which is being spear-headed by Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri .

Sharif swept to office last year in Pakistan's first democratic transition of power.

Khan has alleged that Sharif used malpractices to get his way in the elections and demanded Sharif should resign from the PM’s post.

Pakistan Army has demanded for a peaceful settlement through negotiations which has been refused by Khan.

To end the political fiasco, the Pak Supreme Court on Monday has asked PTI lawyer Ahmed Owais what role it can play in resolving the political crisis in the country, as reported in Pak media.

Samaa TV reported that the apex court today heard the case pertaining to extra-constitutional steps during which Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk asked if the court could give any advice to resolve the crisis.