World Bulletin/News Desk

Two Pakistani opposition parties declared they would continue their sit-in in front of the parliament in the country's capital, Islamabad, despite the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Adha, which will fall on Monday.

Around 3,000 supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf -- led by former cricketer Imran Khan -- and members of Pakistan Awami Tehrik have been sitting outside the parliament for the last one and a half months to press Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stand down.

They accuse Sharif of having won last year's general elections through electoral fraud.

In addition to Khan, the leaders of the protest include the firebrand and controversial cleric Tahir ul Qadri.

However, an unmoved Sharif, backed by all mainstream opposition parties, has rejected their demand.

"We will not go home on Eid," a flamboyant Qadri told his supporters outside the parliament. "We will perform sacrifice here."

Muslims sacrifice animals on Eid-ul-Adha, one of their two holy festivals, to mark the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Khan also announced that his party’s sit-in would continue on Eid.

"If you think we will go back home, let me make it clear, we will stay here even on Eid," he warned Sharif in front of thousands of his supporters. Though many remain, their numbers have gradually shrunk over the last three weeks.

Khan and Qadri started their respective marches from Lahore, in the northeast of the country, on August 14 -- Pakistan’s independence day -- and teamed up in the capital the following day, which saw fierce clashes with security forces.

Three protesters were killed and over 500 injured, including 100 policemen, in clashes between the two sides during August.