Thousands Continue to Protest in Islamabad Demanding Sharif's Resignation

More than 20000 anti-government protesters, after arriving in big convoys from Lahore, gathered in Pakistan's capital city Islamabad demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Reuters reports.

They vowed to stay put on the streets until there demand is fulfilled.

Opposition leader Imran Khan and Muslim cleric Tahir ul-Qadri led the protests in Islamabad alleging Sharif of being involved in rigging in the 2013 elections.

Khan and Qadri are officially not carrying out allied movements. It has been learnt that their supporters wiil be camping out in Islamabad until Sharif conceded to corruption charges and steps down, and fresh elections are announced. Imran Khan accuses 2013 elections was stained by "massive rigging".

Clashes were witnessed Friday in the city of Gujranwala after gunshots were fired at Khan's vehicle. His spokeswoman later said that the shots hit the vehicle and Khan escaped unhurt.

In the wake of violent protests, as many as 25000 security forces have been deployed on the capital streets. In some areas, internet and mobile services have also been suspended.

Qadri, on the other hand, wants justice to be delivered in a case where a dozen people died post a poliuce crackdown on an anti-government rally in June. He accuses authorities of targeting his supporters using anti-terrorism laws.

According to media reports, the protests have taken the shape of the biggest challenge that Sharif, as a Prime Minister, has to face in his 15-month-old government. Even though the organizers of the protest stated that the turnout was far below their expectations, they agreed that the agitators possessed the power to freeze the central business district.

Prime Minister Sharif denied to the charges of election-rigging. He had called for a meeting earlier this week to discuss the issues. He issued a warning against what he calls "any effort to create anarchy and play with the constitution," adding the government "will not allow anyone to paralyze the state machinery or incite bloody riots," Voice of America reports.