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.

At least six people, including four soldiers and two civilians, were killed after the government deployed the army to Islamabad to try to hold back the demonstrators, who defied a city-wide lockdown to march on the capital.

Authorities tried to block their path using shipping containers, while security forces fired volleys of rubber bullets and tear gas at the protesters.

Mobile and internet services were suspended across parts of the country.