ISLAMABAD-  Defense Minister Khawaja Asif today asserted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not step down come what may, as the PTI chief Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri along with their
thousands of supporters were camping outside the Parliament House.

"Next 48 hours are crucial and I hope that the political crisis would be resolved through dialogue," Asif said while talking to media after the National Assembly's session. The prime minister could not be sent packing through unconstitutional means, he said. "A wrong precedent is being set after which anyone would get the government toppled by bringing 50 thousand people on streets," he said.

The defense minister further said patience and restraint shown by the government should not be considered as its weakness. The parliament and the lawmakers have expressed trust on the prime minister, he added.