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Protesters who marched on the Pakistani capital to demand the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan were cleared from the city center on Wednesday after a major security crackdown.

More than 10,000 protesters had poured into Islamabad since the weekend, in response to Khan’s call to protest his sidelining of February’s elections, which he said were rigged to prevent his comeback.

The government flooded the capital with 20,000 security forces who confronted protesters as they approached a public square outside parliament and the prime minister’s house, which they wanted to occupy.

Overnight, police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters with sticks and slingshots, while roadblocks were set on fire.

But early Wednesday, AFP officials saw the main road into Islamabad’s government enclave cleared of crowds and security forces in riot gear being bused away from the area.