Pakistan police said Wednesday they had arrested nearly 1,000 protesters who marched on the capital demanding the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, after crowds were evicted from the city centre in a sweeping security crackdown.

The crackdown brought a swift end to the protests that have gripped Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, this week ever since thousands of people gathered in the city to demand the release of Imran Khan, the former prime minister. Mr. Khan has been in prison since last August on charges that his party claims are politically motivated.

Security forces clashed with protesters near Pakistan's parliament on Tuesday as hundreds of supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan demanded his release in demonstrations the government said have killed four paramilitary troops.

Protests to free former Pakistan PM Imran Khan paused Wednesday as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned protesters that extreme measures will be used if they enter the capital Islamabad.

Soldiers were ordered to defend government buildings with gunfire if needed, as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan demanded his release from prison.

Four members of Pakistan’s security services were killed as thousands of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's supporters broke through government barricades and clashed with law enforcement in the country's capital Islamabad.

Security forces in Pakistan were seen pushing a protester off a 25ft-tall tower of shipping containers during a demonstration that saw nearly 1,000 people arrested. The incident captured on camera and widely circulated on social media happened as thousands of supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan converged in Islamabad to demand his release from prison.

He was covering a protest by supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. A journalist in Pakistan investigating violence during a protest march for the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested by Islamabad Police.