Islamabad: Erratic negotiations between the government and the two parties behind ongoing 14-day sit-ins by thousands of protestors near the parliament in Islamabad finally collapsed overnight.

Top leaders of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) announced the breakdown of the dialogue on the current political crisis, leaving the nation in suspense.

PTI chairman Imran Khan told party workers and supporters after a fruitless fifth round of talks with a government team that there would be no negotiations until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.

Imran said the government had turned down even the watered down PTI demand that Sharif resign for 30 days to facilitate an independent probe by a panel of Supreme Court judges into the alleged rigging of the 2013 election.

“No talks now and whatever happens I shall stay here until Nawaz Sharif steps down,” he said amid a crescendo of “Go Nawaz Go” shouts by men, women and children waving PTI flags.

The cricketer-turned-politician said he would unveil on Thursday evening the “most important” next step in the PTI struggle aimed at ushering in “true democracy” through a flawless election, necessary for building a new Pakistan.

Hours later, PAT chief Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, prominent Canada-based Islamic scholar and founder of international Minhajul Quran organisation, told his sit-in gathering including a large number of women that the dialogue was dead.

“The talks process has failed completely,” he said in an emotional address to the cheering crowd, soon after a government team, after consultations with the prime minister, rejected two core PAT demands

The party wanted the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) or complaint by police in Lahore against 21 individuals, including Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over a June 17 incident in the city in which 14 PAT workers were reportedly killed and scores injured in police firing.

The other demand was that the Punjab Chief Minister resign as a judicial inquiry tribunal, the party said, had also held the provincial government responsible for the incident.

“Thursday will be Youm-e-Inquilab [revolution day],” said the PAT chief, adding: “It will be the deciding day.”

He asked his supporters to make the call for prayers seven times collectively at 4pm (local) on Thursday and pray for victory and then decide with him on what action should be launched.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, speaking to a television channel, said a “baseless” FIR against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif could not be registered.

The minister said the demands were unacceptable and pointed out that no government could be stable if a precedent of giving in to pressure was set.

The minister said during negotiations that the government had asked Qadri to end the sit-in in order to relieve “women and children” of the hostage-like torment they were undergoing and after that the issue of the FIR could be addressed in an appropriate manner.

Rasheed said the inquiry tribunal’s report was being processed and it would be made public at the proper time.