The party of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called off a protest in the capital, Islamabad, after a crackdown by security forces.

This brought about the tragic loss of hundreds of supporters, and the rest were arrested and forced to flee.

Thousands of Mr Khan’s supporters led by his wife converged on Islamabad on Monday from his stronghold province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the north-west, vowing to force the government to release him.

The protesters turned violent and killed at least six members of the security forces as they headed to camp outside the country’s parliament.

Thousands of police and paramilitary troops in riot gear began an operation shortly before midnight to dislodge the protests.

According to the police, Khan’s supporters and protest leaders fled the capital after resisting the tear-gas shelling and rubber bullets for around two hours.

The party claimed six protesters were killed, but hospitals in the city said they received two bodies of civilians and several dozen people with bullet wounds.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government was forced to order the crackdown after Khan’s party challenged the state, adding that it had plans to storm the parliament.

Schools remained closed in Islamabad for a third day on Wednesday while traffic on the streets was light as roads were reopened after a security lockdown since Saturday.

Mr Khan, who governed Pakistan between 2018 and 2022, has been in jail for more than a year after he was convicted on several graft charges.

He faces trial on many counts.

Mr Khan’s party governed the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, from where his supporters periodically initiate protests for his release.

(dpa/NAN)