Pakistan Arrests Hundreds in Crackdown on Protests Backing Ex-Leader

More than 600 people were arrested in an overnight crackdown on supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister in Islamabad, the police said on Wednesday.

The crackdown brought a swift end to the protests that have gripped Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, this week ever since thousands of people gathered in the city to demand the release of Imran Khan, the former prime minister. Mr. Khan has been in prison since last August on charges that his party claims are politically motivated.

The protesters, led by Mr. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, marched to a main square near government buildings in Islamabad on Tuesday. That resulted in violent clashes with security forces, who moved to disperse them. Four civilians were killed by gunfire in the unrest, according to local media reports.

The Inspector General of Islamabad Police, Ali Nasir Rizvi, said Wednesday that 954 people have been arrested in relation to the recent protests — including 610 the previous night.

He told a news conference that 71 members of the security forces had been wounded in clashes, and denied that they had fired on protesters.

“Only nonlethal weapons, tear gas and baton-charge were used during last night’s crackdown,” Mr. Rizvi said.