ISLAMABAD: After a tense Saturday night, Sunday brought a Hurry of activity from the government and the military which analysts agreed was intended to signal each other two leading protagonists in this crisis which has drawn in many a player from the political spectrum.

On a day on which both the government and the military usually take a break from official work was used to hold official meetings at their official seats Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

While the government used the meeting to once again reiterate its democratic legitimacy, the militaryaskedforthe crisis tobe resolved and also warned against violence.

The first sign that Sunday was not going to be a day of rest came when it was announced that the military leadership had cancelled the Defence Day event which was to be held on Sunday afternoon.

A little while later, it was announced that a corps commander meeting would be held on Monday.

The last time the corps commanders met on a weekend was in September 2011.

The extraordinary meeting then took place amid US allegations about ISI`s links with the Haqqani network.

Shortly after this it came to light that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was returning to Islamabad. Earlier, it was being conjectured that he may prolong his stay in Lahore because of the situation prevailing in the red zone.

This was unusual as prime minister`s routine is to spend his weekend in Lahore, not returning to Islamabad till Monday morning.

However, he cut short his weekend and went into a huddle with his `war-cabinet`, a government official told Dawn.

The official communiqué released by the prime minister office said, `the prime minister chaired a high-level meeting at the PM`s House this afternoon, which was attended by Federal Ministers: Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Zahid Hamid, retired Lt General Abdul Qadir Baloch and KhawajaSaadRaHg.

As this meeting was beingheld, the ISPR released the information that instead of Monday, the military commanders were meeting at six in the evening on Sunday.

The generals were still discussing matters when the prime minister had wrapped up his meeting and the media wing of his office said the government had agreed tothe suggestions ofthe PPP opposition leaders and called a joint sitting of the parliament.

`The prime minister, in agreement with the proposal of Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and Leader of Opposition in Senate Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, decided to convene a joint session of parliament on Tuesday, September 2, 2014,` the office said.

Analysts felt that the prime minister was digging in his heels by convening the joint sitting of the parliament.

`Since already all the political parties in the parliament have passed resolutions against his resignation, the government has made a wise move by turning to the forum where he has received unconditional support against the marchers,` commented one analyst.

Undeterred by the government`s announcement, the army`s top brass emerged from a three-hour long session and cautioned the government against using force to quell political protests saying it risked worsening the crisis.

`Further use of force will only aggravate the problem,` the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

On the surface the statement appeared mild as many people had wildly predicted that the corps commanders would emerge with a solution to the crisis, which it would impose on the quarrelling political parties including the government.

However, the military did no such thing; in fact it reiterated `support to democracy`.

But there is no doubt that the statement did carry red lines,directed atthe government as well as the protesters.

`It was once again reiterated that the situation should be resolved politically without wasting any time and without recourse to violent means,` the statement noted. It added that `Further use of force will only aggravate the problem`.

This was the first time the army publicly warned the government against use of force. Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, who presided over the corps commanders` meeting, had privately conveyed this message to the prime minister during his last two meetings.

The call from the corps commanders to avoid use of force against protesters assumed additional significance because the prime minister`s office had stated that Mr Sharif had commended the police for `defend(ing) and defeat(ing)` the protesters` advance on Saturday night.

The statement from the prime minister`s house also directed the interior minister to `utilise all resources` to protect state institutions without loss of life.

Analysts were agreed that the ISPR statement was warning the government against this course of action as well as sending a message to the protesters; there were reports that the PTI chief Imran Khan may also announce taking his followers further to the prime minister`s house.

In his speeches on Constitution Avenue on Sunday, he had said at least once that while his party workers were not prepared on Saturday night, they were equipped on Sundayif an onslaught tool< place. There were also reports that he held a meeting with some of his senior leaders to discuss this option.

But thenitappeared thathe decided againstit,perhaps heeding the military`s message. Before one at night, he told his followers that he was going into his container to sleep.

The commanders also expressed `concern` over the situation especially the violent dimension it has assumed `resulting in large-scale injuries and loss of lives` The government too seemed to take steps to defuse the situation. There were no indications that it intended to take any steps to disperse the protesters; a conciliatory statement of a senior police official at the red zone late at night also helped in this regard.

Talking to Dawn about the meeting held by the government, a PML-N office-bearer said that only time would tell if the civil and military leadership was on the same page as far as the twin-marches were concerned.

However, the official`s response was in the affirmative when asked if the current political crisis has put further strain on the already tense civil-military relationship.

`Of course they were looking tense,` said the party official, about the ministers who attended the meeting. ISLAMABAD: After a tense Saturday night, Sunday brought a Hurry of activity from the government and the military which analysts agreed was intended to signal each other two leading protagonists in this crisis which has drawn in many a player from the political spectrum.

On a day on which both the government and the military usually take a break from official work was used to hold official meetings at their official seats Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

While the government used the meeting to once again reiterate its democratic legitimacy, the militaryaskedforthe crisis tobe resolved and also warned against violence.

The first sign that Sunday was not going to be a day of rest came when it was announced that the military leadership had cancelled the Defence Day event which was to be held on Sunday afternoon.

A little while later, it was announced that a corps commander meeting would be held on Monday.

The last time the corps commanders met on a weekend was in September 2011.

The extraordinary meeting then took place amid US allegations about ISI`s links with the Haqqani network.

Shortly after this it came to light that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was returning to Islamabad. Earlier, it was being conjectured that he may prolong his stay in Lahore because of the situation prevailing in the red zone.

This was unusual as prime minister`s routine is to spend his weekend in Lahore, not returning to Islamabad till Monday morning.

However, he cut short his weekend and went into a huddle with his `war-cabinet`, a government official told Dawn.

The official communiqué released by the prime minister office said, `the prime minister chaired a high-level meeting at the PM`s House this afternoon, which was attended by Federal Ministers: Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Zahid Hamid, retired Lt General Abdul Qadir Baloch and KhawajaSaadRaHg.

As this meeting was beingheld, the ISPR released the information that instead of Monday, the military commanders were meeting at six in the evening on Sunday.

The generals were still discussing matters when the prime minister had wrapped up his meeting and the media wing of his office said the government had agreed tothe suggestions ofthe PPP opposition leaders and called a joint sitting of the parliament.

`The prime minister, in agreement with the proposal of Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and Leader of Opposition in Senate Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, decided to convene a joint session of parliament on Tuesday, September 2, 2014,` the office said.

Analysts felt that the prime minister was digging in his heels by convening the joint sitting of the parliament.

`Since already all the political parties in the parliament have passed resolutions against his resignation, the government has made a wise move by turning to the forum where he has received unconditional support against the marchers,` commented one analyst.

Undeterred by the government`s announcement, the army`s top brass emerged from a three-hour long session and cautioned the government against using force to quell political protests saying it risked worsening the crisis.

`Further use of force will only aggravate the problem,` the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

On the surface the statement appeared mild as many people had wildly predicted that the corps commanders would emerge with a solution to the crisis, which it would impose on the quarrelling political parties including the government.

However, the military did no such thing; in fact it reiterated `support to democracy`.

But there is no doubt that the statement did carry red lines,directed atthe government as well as the protesters.

`It was once again reiterated that the situation should be resolved politically without wasting any time and without recourse to violent means,` the statement noted. It added that `Further use of force will only aggravate the problem`.

This was the first time the army publicly warned the government against use of force. Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, who presided over the corps commanders` meeting, had privately conveyed this message to the prime minister during his last two meetings.

The call from the corps commanders to avoid use of force against protesters assumed additional significance because the prime minister`s office had stated that Mr Sharif had commended the police for `defend(ing) and defeat(ing)` the protesters` advance on Saturday night.

The statement from the prime minister`s house also directed the interior minister to `utilise all resources` to protect state institutions without loss of life.

Analysts were agreed that the ISPR statement was warning the government against this course of action as well as sending a message to the protesters; there were reports that the PTI chief Imran Khan may also announce taking his followers further to the prime minister`s house.

In his speeches on Constitution Avenue on Sunday, he had said at least once that while his party workers were not prepared on Saturday night, they were equipped on Sundayif an onslaught tool< place. There were also reports that he held a meeting with some of his senior leaders to discuss this option.

But thenitappeared thathe decided againstit,perhaps heeding the military`s message. Before one at night, he told his followers that he was going into his container to sleep.

The commanders also expressed `concern` over the situation especially the violent dimension it has assumed `resulting in large-scale injuries and loss of lives` The government too seemed to take steps to defuse the situation. There were no indications that it intended to take any steps to disperse the protesters; a conciliatory statement of a senior police official at the red zone late at night also helped in this regard.

Talking to Dawn about the meeting held by the government, a PML-N office-bearer said that only time would tell if the civil and military leadership was on the same page as far as the twin-marches were concerned.

However, the official`s response was in the affirmative when asked if the current political crisis has put further strain on the already tense civil-military relationship.

`Of course they were looking tense,` said the party official, about the ministers who attended the meeting.