Pakistani police fired teargas and baton-charged supporters of ousted prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday to stop them from reaching Islamabad.
This came amid reports of the potential arrest of Khan, also the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who was removed from power through a no-confidence vote last month.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has formed a team for the negotiation with the PTI, said Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.
Following the directions of the Supreme Court, the government and the PTI engaged in dialogue; however, no breakthrough was reported between the two. According to Geo News, the talks between the government and PTI continued for two-and-half hours.
Political and economic volatility deepened in the country before a likely announcement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) later in the day on whether it will resume a $6 billion rescue package.
With foreign reserves falling to $10.3 billion, political turmoil compounded unrest in the country.
Khan urged his supporters to march on the capital and stay there until the new government is dissolved and fresh elections are called.
Attesting to the police action on the PTI supporters, an Interior Ministry official said no one was seriously injured in the clashes, which were reported mostly in Punjab province.
Police, he added, also rounded up dozens of the activists.
Cellular services were suspended in 11 districts of Punjab on Wednesday afternoon.
Islamabad's entry and exit routes have been blocked, as well as all important sites, including parliament, government offices and diplomatic missions.
Entry and exit points were also blocked to and from all major cities in Punjab province and on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed since Tuesday evening.
Possible arrest
The government has decided to detain Khan, a top officer responsible for security arrangements told a local daily.
The authorities during detailed meetings with different agencies have discussed aspects after the detention but finally decided to use all resources to go ahead with the plan, sources told the newspaper.
Though it appears an unfeasible task to arrest them during the long march yet the government has no option but to detain them to stop possible carnage, they added.
'No deal and stopping'
Khan was leading a rally that started in Peshawar and was due to reach the capital via the GT Road.
"No one can stop us," Khan said from atop a truck on the road.
"We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given," he Tweet, rejecting local media reports that a deal had been struck with the government to call off the march after holding a public meeting in the evening.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also denied any such deal.
The government banned Khan's march, alleging that he was bringing the protesters to Islamabad with an "evil design."
But the Supreme Court ordered the government to lift the restrictions.