The party of deposed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has demanded his immediate release from army custody.

Mr Sharif, along with several of his colleagues, was arrested soon after the military overthrew his government last week.

Nearly 30 senior members of the Pakistan Muslim League, who met to discuss their future strategy, described the dismissal of their government as unfortunate but have stopped short of condemning the military action.

This was the first time since last week's military takeover that senior members of Nawaz Sharif's party had formally met to discuss their future line of action.

Some of them were recently released from detention and others who were free had been reluctant to react to the military action.

Soldiers outside Sharif's Lahore home

Briefing journalists after the meeting leader of the party in the Senate, Raja Zafar ul-Haq, said the dismissal of their elected administration was unjustified and unfortunate.

When asked why the party has not condemned the military takeover, Mr Haq declined to offer an comment.

He refused to say if the previous administration had committed any mistakes and said only time would reveal the real circumstances which had led to the dismissal of their government.

Future strategy

Mr Haq said the party has formed a co-ordination council of senior members to decide its future strategy.

As a first step, he said, the party has decided against a policy of confrontation and has asked the military authorities to allow senior party leaders to meet Mr Sharif.

He also called for the immediate release of the deposed prime minister, but did not say if the party was going to challenge the military action in a court of law.