“At least six people have been killed in the clashes and four have been identified,” Deeba Shahaz from the city’s Rescue Department said on Sunday.

Police spent all of Saturday clashing with Islamist activists who have been blocking key routes into the capital for more than two weeks, demanding an official’s removal for alleged blasphemy.

The violence, which has spread to other cities, prompted a media blackout on Saturday and forced authorities to send in federal troops to support police.