Islamabad: The need for an expeditious resolution of the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan was emphasised during a crucial meeting here on Tuesday between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the country’s army chief, officials said.

General Raheel Sharif called on the prime minister at his official residence, amid continuing sit-ins in its vicinity by workers and supporters of two parties demanding the prime minister’s resignation.

A brief statement issued from the PM House said the overall security environment, including the prevailing situation, was discussed during the meeting.

“There was a consensus on the need to resolve the ongoing issue expeditiously in the best national interests,” the statement said.

Tension grips the capital’s high-security ‘red zone’ which reverberated with shouts of “Go Nawaz Go” by the demonstrators camping close to the parliament building since August 15.

An impasse prevails with the prime minister rejecting the demand for his resignation by Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri.

Last week, the powerful military had publicly stressed in a statement that the situation “requires patience, wisdom and sagacity from all stakeholders to resolve the issue through a meaningful dialogue”.

Tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel remain deployed in the sensitive zone where army troops requisitioned by the government are guarding the PM House, the parliament and other symbols of the State.

While cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan wants Sharif to step down to pave the way for fresh general elections under a caretaker government as he says the 2013 election was rigged, Qadri, an anti-Taliban islamic scholar and founder of Minhajul Quran organisation, stands for overthrow of the existing “corrupt” system and democratic reforms by a national government after dissoluton of present assemblies.

The PAT leader on Monday gave a 48-hour ultimatum for meeting his demands, which expires on Wednesday.

Addressing his workers, several of whom stood wearing burial shrouds indicating their commitment to lay down their lives, Qadri vowed that a revolution was in sight.

He called for immediate registration of a case by the police over the June 17 incident in Lahore in which he said 14 of his followers were shot dead and scores injured.

Qadri spoke after the Lahore High Court dismissed a petition filed by some federal ministers, challenging a recent verdict by a sessions court.

The sessions court in Lahore had ordered registration of a murder case against 21 people, including the prime minister and Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif over the June 17 incident.

The government can challenge the high court decision in the Supreme Court, but it was not immediately known whether it would.