DHAKA: The Pakistani cleric leading thousands of protesters occupying parts of the capital Islamabad has firmly rejected allegations he is linked with the army.

Tahirul Qadri told the BBC he has never been in contact with the military.

Qadri has been seen as close to the army, with this protest fuelling fears of an army intervention in a country with a history of military coups.

Along with opposition politician Imran Khan, he has called for Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif to resign.

Both men led thousands of their supporters in separate marches from Lahore to Islamabad and both protest camps are now occupying two highways in the Pakistani capital.

The government has accused the protesters of trying to derail democracy, just over a year after polls that ensured Pakistan's first peaceful transfer of power between civilian governments - polls the protesters allege were marred by fraud.

The Pakistani prime minister offered to set up a high level judicial panel to look into the allegations, but the offer was rejected.

BDST: 2116 HRS, AUG 18, 2014