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Army seals Parliament building

The Pakistan Army today sealed off the Parliament House and ordered all the staff out, according to eyewitnesses, as the military leadership remained busy putting in place an alternative government two days after the dismissal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief, the Dawn reports.

Soldiers were seen ordering the staff of the Parliament House out and later locked the main entrance that also leads to the president's house.

The move came at noon amid rumours that President Rafiq Tarar, handpicked by Sharief late 1998, had resigned. No civilian or army officials were available to confirm or deny the reports. One of the houses of Parliament is scheduled to meet Friday. Observers said the seal-off might be aimed at preventing the MPs from meeting.

Wasim Sajjad the Chairman of the Senate who is now in the United Kingdom will be returning to Pakistan on the first available flight.

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