Qadri poured into Islamabad with tens of thousands of supporters, denouncing politicians and praising the armed forces and judiciary.

He signalled that his protest in Islamabad would end on Thursday and invited the government to last-minute talks.

At around 4 pm (1100 GMT), a delegation of cabinet ministers and members of the coalition entered the bullet-proof container, where Qadri has been holed up for four days on the main commercial avenue near parliament.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who was part of the delegation, said the talks would try to resolve the situation, which has paralysed part of the city.

Qadri's supporters, who have braved cold weather and heavy rain to camp out since overnight Monday-Tuesday, broke into cheers and danced in the street at news of the dialogue. Most were shivering with cold. Some were drying their clothes after the rain stopped and the sun came out, an AFP reporter said.

"You keep sitting here until the dialogue succeeds, a formal agreement is written and it is announced. Don't move until then," Qadri told them.

"Congratulations. The voice of the people has been heard. We will leave here after victory."

Qadri wants parliament dissolved immediately and a caretaker government set up in consultation with the military and judiciary, to implement reforms before free elections can be held.

The government has so far stuck to its position that parliament will disband in mid-March to make way for a caretaker government, set up in consultation with political parties, and for elections within 60 days -- sometime by mid-May.

Qadri has announced that Thursday would be the last day of the sit-in.

"Tomorrow there will be no sit-in. We have to end it today," he added. 

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2013