ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition leader Imran Khan said he plans to lead demonstrations into the capital’s central “Red Zone,” a heavily protected area and home to major government offices and western embassies.

Khan, who is trying to force the prime minister to step down over allegations he rigged last year’s elections, said that he wanted the march on Tuesday to be peaceful and for women and children to come.

“I will lead you and you will follow me,” he told thousands of supporters at a protest rally in Islamabad.

“I am inviting all families ... there will be women and children with us.”

The government has repeatedly said his supporters are free to demonstrate peacefully but will not be permitted to enter the Red Zone.

The “Red Zone” houses diplomatic posts, parliament, government offices and the presidential and prime ministerial palaces.

The area has been sealed off with shipping containers and barbed wire, and is guarded by thousands of riot police, the army and the paramilitary Rangers.

Any attempt by protesters to force their way in could lead to a violent confrontation.

On Sunday, police said some 55,000 people protested in the capital.

Broadening the action, Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaaf party said it would resign from the National Assembly, where it is the third largest party with 34 out of 342 seats.

Imran Khan’s party will also withdraw from two out of four provincial assemblies in Pakistan, senior party official Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

It has no seats in the third province and Khan’s party rules the fourth province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials there will not resign, he said.

In addition to Khan’s protest, Tahirul Qadri has brought his followers to the capital.