Pakistan cleric leading anti-government rally of thousands warns leaders of 48-hour deadline

Supporters of Pakistani religious party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam attend pro-government rally in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri are besieging parliament in the capital to pressure Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over alleged election fraud. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of Pakistan's fiery cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri praise their leader's speech in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. Thousands of Imran Khan's and Qadri's supporters are besieging parliament in the capital to pressure Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over alleged election fraud. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of Pakistan's cricketer turned-politician Imran Khan rally in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. Thousands of Khan's and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri's supporters are besieging parliament in the capital to pressure Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over alleged election fraud. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil) (The Associated Press)

A Pakistani cleric leading a mass anti-government rally in front of parliament has issued a 48-hour deadline for the country's prime minister to step down or he says he's prepared to die.

Tahir-ul-Qadri showed protesters a white burial shroud Monday in a speech issuing the deadline for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has refused to step down.

It's not clear what Qadri plans to do after his deadline expires, though some have feared protesters may try to enter parliament, which is protected by soldiers. That could set off a violent confrontation.

Qadri and opposition politician Imran Khan separately led tens of thousands of people from eastern city of Lahore to Islamabad, protesting against alleged vote fraud in the 2013 elections that brought Sharif to power.