Thousands marched to Islamabad Tuesday, demanding ex-PM Imran Khan’s release, defying tear gas and roadblocks. Clashes left one officer dead and nine critically injured. Khan, barred from February elections amid rigging allegations, faces multiple legal cases he claims are politically motivated to block his return to power.

The government said one police officer had been killed and nine were critically wounded in two days of clashes with demonstrators as they closed in on Islamabad.

Khan was barred from standing in February elections that were marred by allegations of rigging, sidelined by dozens of legal cases that he claims were confected to prevent his comeback.

The capital has been locked down since late Saturday, with mobile internet sporadically cut and more than 20,000 police flooding the streets, many armed with riot shields and batons.

Supporters of Pakistan ex-PM Khan march to capital demanding his release