A charred lorry, empty tear gas shells and posters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan - it was all that remained of a massive protest led by Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, that had sent the entire capital into lockdown.

Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif said former PM Imran Khan agreed to move a protest outside Islamabad. However, his wife, Bushra Bibi, refused, resulting in violent clashes and several casualties.

Imran Khan agreed to relocate a protest from D-chowk to Islamabad's outskirts, but his wife Bushra Bibi rejected the plan, resulting in violent clashes and deaths. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused PTI leaders of fleeing the scene and criticized conflicting reports on casualties.

Pakistan's capital Islamabad was gripped by violence on Tuesday as protesters demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces near the parliament.

Thousands of security forces poured into central Islamabad in an attempt to quell protests in support of Khan that have gripped the capital.

Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said a “massacre” unfolded in Pakistan and the armed forces fired live rounds, killing “hundreds of people” and many injured with gunshot wounds. It did not give a number as to how many were killed.