Marches on Islamabad begin

The protesters set out Thursday morning from Lahore in cars, trucks and busses, while others walked or drove motorcycles as they embarked on the 300 kilometer trek to the capital, Islamabad.

In Islamabad, security was tight, although the protesters aren't expected to reach the capital until Friday. Main roads and key areas, including a number of embassies, were blocked by riot police and shipping containers. More than a dozen protesters and at least three policemen were said to have been killed in violence ahead of the march, on the eve of the anniversary of Pakistani Independence.

The two independent protest marches - one led by a former cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan, the other by Pakistani-Canadian cleric Tahir ul-Qadri - had been initially banned, then allowed to go ahead at the last minute. Both groups have made it their explicit objective to bring down the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

According to the Reuters news agency, Qadri had around 10,000 supporters and Khan around 7,000. Both groups said they were looking to gather more supporters en route.

Calls for revolution, democratic reform

While the mood around the Khan camp was festive, with protesters chanting and listening to music, supporters of Qadri - who has vowed to overthrow the government by the end of this month - were said to be more subdued.

Qadri, who is in control of a network of mosques, religious schools and charities, has met with strong opposition from the government. His message has resonated well with poor Pakistanis who struggle with high unemployment, daily power cuts and inflation.

"Every homeless person will be provided housing; every unemployed person will be given a job; low paid people will be provided with daily necessities," Qadri said in a speech on Thursday.

Khan, who is not allied with Qadri, is calling for an investigation into vote-rigging allegations at last year's election. He claims he was cheated out of votes in several constituencies. He urged his followers on Thursday to make the journey to Islamabad, promising that it could ultimately lead to democratic reform in Pakistan.

"If you succeed, then there will be justice in Pakistan and people all around the world will respect the green passport," Khan told a cheering crowd outside Lahore.

Analysts in Pakistan have said the government is looking to keep the two movements separate as they make their way into Islamabad. It is thought that the reaction by the army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of the country's history since independence in 1947, may prove pivotal in Sharif's chances of retaining power. The protests come just over one year after the first democratic transition of power in Pakistan's history.

glb/sb (AP, Reuters, dpa)