IN PICTURES: How the Islamabad operation unfolded

Ambulances and prison vans swarmed Islamabad's Faizabad Interchange early Saturday morning, with helicopters and drones circling the site for aerial surveillance, as law enforcement agencies (LEAs) commenced a crackdown against protestors here.

Riot police — using water cannons as well as tear gas to disperse the demonstrators — took dozens into custody in the process.