Authorities have reopened roads linking Pakistan’s capital with the rest of the country, ending a four-day lockdown, after using tear gas and firing into the air to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who demanded his release from prison.

Pakistan's capital was put under a security lockdown on Sunday ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan calling for his release. Highways leading to Islamabad through which supporters of Khan,

Pakistani police were filmed fleeing their posts and abandoning their weapons as they were overwhelmed by thousands of protesters demanding the release of Imran Khan, the former prime minister.

Pakistani police have levelled multiple charges against imprisoned former premier Imran Khan, his wife and others for inciting people to violence.

The rally has been declared illegal and Islamabad is under lockdown [EPA] At least one policeman has been killed and more than 50 injured, Pakistan’s authorities say, as officials try to stop thousands of opposition protesters reaching Islamabad.