Pakistani PM calls off Ankara trip amid domestic crisis

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled plans to attend Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s presidential inauguration in Turkey on Aug. 28 due to a crisis at home.

A fiery Pakistani cleric, who has been leading a mass rally outside Parliament demanding Sharif’s resignation, says he has “shut the door” on further talks with the government.

Tahir-ul-Qadri emerged today from late-night talks with government representatives to tell his followers early that the talks have failed.

The negotiations intended to find a peaceful solution to a crisis that has raised fears of political instability in Pakistan.

The cleric, a dual Pakistani-Canadian citizen with a wide following, has been leading mass rallies for two weeks in Islamabad with Pakistan’s cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan.

They want Sharif to resign over allegations of vote fraud in last year’s elections.

Sharif had planned an official visit to Ankara to witness Erdoğan’s presidential oath ceremony, alongside international leaders from over 90 countries.