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.

The unrest coincided with renewed sectarian violence in Kurram district, where eight more people were killed on Thursday following deadly clashes earlier this month.View on euronews

Authorities have reopened roads linking Pakistan’s capital with the rest of the country, ending a four-day lockdown.

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.

In the chaos of protests that turned Pakistan's capital into a battleground, a new figurehead has emerged: Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was clear about where he apportioned blame for the chaos.

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.

Bushra Bibi, who previously avoided the spotlight, has taken centre stage in her husband Imran Khan’s political party during its protest march to Islamabad that have led to deadly clashes with security forces.