Mr Khan demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif step down, alleging rigging in the 2013 elections.
A separate convoy led by anti-government cleric Tahirul Qadri, who is calling for a "green revolution", also arrived in Islambad.
Last year's election saw the first civilian government transfer of power.
There was tight security in Islamabad as the protesters arrived in poor weather by truck, jeeps and cars after travelling the 350km (218 miles) from Lahore to Islamabad.
Mr Khan, who heads the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party, said that the government was illegitimate, citing fraud and a failure to organise a probe into the elections.
He called for new elections, vowing to continue a sit-in until Mr Sharif resigns.
Police estimated the crowd was 60,000 strong.
Shahzeb Jillani in Islamabad says that the numbers fall significantly short of a projected "million man march", and that the real test of the crowd's staying power is yet to come as Mr Khan's stand-off is expected to drag on over the weekend.
His convoy of protesters was pelted with stones on the way, in the city of Gujranwala.
Officials from Mr Khan's party said his vehicle was also shot at but he was not hurt.
A senior leader of Mr Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League party announced that the government was ready to investigate the allegations of fraud from last year's elections, but said that Mr Sharif would not be removed through a rally.
The government says the protesters are trying to derail democracy. The prime minister's spokesman Pervaiz Rashid condemned the "irresponsible behaviour and actions" of his opponents.
Mr Khan's and cleric Tahirul Qadri's supporters are angry about the sinking economy, growing militancy, and failure to deliver core services such as a steady electricity supply.
Tahirul Qadri was due to address his supporters at noon.
A separate convoy led by anti-government cleric Tahirul Qadri, who is calling for a "green revolution", also arrived in Islambad.Last year's election saw the first civilian government transfer of power.
There was tight security in Islamabad as the protesters arrived in poor weather by truck, jeeps and cars after travelling the 350km (218 miles) from Lahore to Islamabad.
Mr Khan, who heads the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party, said that the government was illegitimate, citing fraud and a failure to organise a probe into the elections.
He called for new elections, vowing to continue a sit-in until Mr Sharif resigns.
Police estimated the crowd was 60,000 strong.
Shahzeb Jillani in Islamabad says that the numbers fall significantly short of a projected "million man march", and that the real test of the crowd's staying power is yet to come as Mr Khan's stand-off is expected to drag on over the weekend.
His convoy of protesters was pelted with stones on the way, in the city of Gujranwala.
Officials from Mr Khan's party said his vehicle was also shot at but he was not hurt.
A senior leader of Mr Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League party announced that the government was ready to investigate the allegations of fraud from last year's elections, but said that Mr Sharif would not be removed through a rally.
The government says the protesters are trying to derail democracy. The prime minister's spokesman Pervaiz Rashid condemned the "irresponsible behaviour and actions" of his opponents.Mr Khan's and cleric Tahirul Qadri's supporters are angry about the sinking economy, growing militancy, and failure to deliver core services such as a steady electricity supply.
Tahirul Qadri was due to address his supporters at noon.
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