Pakistani authorities have placed shipping containers on key roads and highways leading to the capital and suspended cellphone service in Islamabad in an attempt to prevent supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from holding a rally seeking his release.

Authorities in Pakistan sealed off the capital, Islamabad, and blocked cellphone services on Friday to prevent an anti-government rally by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, officials said.

The highlights this week: Pakistan’s opposition sounds off against proposed amendments to the constitution, the U.S. State Department’s top Afghanistan official moves on without a replacement, and police crack down hard on protests in Bangladesh.

Calling the government "fake and victim of panic," Imran Khan-founded party said that the government is crossing all limits of fascism by depriving people of their basis rights to maintain their "illegitimate power.

Authorities had cordoned off Islamabad and blocked mobile phone services to prevent the assembly, as the city remained on high alert ahead of a series of high-level diplomatic events, including the SCO summit.

Pakistani authorities on Friday deployed the army in the capital for two weeks as violent protesters who support jailed former prime minister Imran Khan clashed with police after they were blocked from entering the city.

Pakistan authorities have sealed off Islamabad and suspended cellphone services to prevent protests by supporters of jailed former PM Khan.

Police in Pakistan's capital fired teargas on Friday as they clashed with supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan who were holding an anti-government rally in defiance of a ban on congregating in the city.