At least one policeman was killed and dozens of people injured in Pakistan as supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces outside the capital Islamabad on Monday, a government minister and Khan's party said, APA reports citing Reuters.
Authorities have enforced a security lockdown for the last two days to block the protesters, whom Khan has called on to march on parliament for a sit-in demonstration to demand his release, while highways into the city have been barricaded.
The government has used shipping containers to block major roads and streets in Islamabad, with patrols of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear.
Officials and witnesses said all public transport between cities and terminals had also been shut down in the eastern province of Punjab to keep away the protesters, led by members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
"We wouldn't let them storm the capital," said provincial Information Minister Uzma Bukhari, adding that about 80 of Khan's supporters had been arrested.
One police officer was shot and killed and at least 70 others were injured in clashes just outside Islamabad, she told a press conference. There were reports of several other clashes elsewhere in the province, she said.
Khan's party said scores of its workers were also hurt.
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