ISLAMABAD: With the protests in Islamabad taking a violent turn, the meeting which was underway between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the PM House on Monday afternoon has concluded.

Sources told Dawn that the army chief took the prime minister into confidence over the discussions held during the corps commanders meeting on Sunday evening on the prevailing political crisis. Both Nawaz and Raheel were expected to chalk out a strategy to resolve the impasse which has resulted in at least three deaths and scores of injuries.

The prime minster has been holding consultations with his senior political and government aides since Sunday’s meeting of the top army commanders. Nawaz has also called Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to rush to Islamabad.

Meanwhile, a session of the National Assembly will begin later today during which the prevailing situation will likely be discussed.

Today's meeting between Raheel and Nawaz will likely have a serious bearing on the prevailing scenario with it coming a day after the corps commander met on the prevailing crisis and affirmed the army's support for democracy.

The meeting came a day after the army said it was “reaffirming support to democracy” and reiterated that the ongoing standoff between the Nawaz government and the Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) needed a political solution.

No truth to Nawaz being advised to step down: Govt spokesperson

A government spokesperson has denied and denounced rumours broadcast on TV channels stating that COAS General Raheel Sharif has advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.

The government spokesperson termed the rumours "baseless" and "fake".