In response to the government's request for assistance with the operation, the Army — in an official letter to the Interior Ministry — said that it was prepared to cooperate with security personnel in keeping with Article 245 of the Constitution to protect the life and property of the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Editorial: 'PML-N has handled every aspect of the Faizabad protest disastrously'

However, the letter states that before troops are deployed, there are a "few aspects meriting deliberation", such as how the "police has not been utilized to its full capacity" in dealing with the religious protesters.

It points out that "the Pakistan Rangers have not been given written instructions."

The letter also highlights that the Army is not a force traditionally used to disperse crowds or protesters, adding that the terms of the military's deployment in the twin cities need to be clarified in keeping with orders passed by the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court earlier this week.

Read: How Faizabad became Waterloo for security personnel on Saturday

On Friday, the IHC, displeased with government inaction against the Faizabad protesters, had pointed out that the participants of the sit-in could be dispersed using options other than bullets.

Similarly, the SC on Thursday had said that the efforts of the government to avoid loss of life by refraining from launching its operation against protesters were commendable. However, the apex court had added that "it does not follow that protesters can only be removed by firing upon them."

Nisar criticises Iqbal for giving 'illogical' statements

Former interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday rejected the claims that there were any casualties during the attack by protesters at his residence near Faizabad on Saturday.

"No one was even injured at my house, let alone any deaths," he said.

He, however, criticised Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for giving what he called illogical statements by the minister to hide his [Iqbal's] incompetence.

"Isn't he the same person who stated that he would clear the sit-in within three hours and now he is shifting the onus of responsibility of the operation on the judiciary," Nisar said.

Unfortunately, the interior minister of the country is an ignorant and irresponsible person, Nisar said, adding that the designation of Ahsan Iqbal required him to stand with his administration, instead of making lame excuses.

Soon after Chaudhary Nisar passed remarks against the interior minister, Iqbal responded in a tit for tat reaction and said that the Punjab government was investigating the murder of four protestors who, according to some reports, were killed during an attack on the residence of Chaudhary Nisar.

In how many days Nisar had managed to end the sit-in staged by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf when he [Nisar] was holding the post, Iqbal questioned.

Protests continue on Sunday

The protesters amassed at the Faizabad bridge belong to various 'religious' parties, including the Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST), and had been calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 ─ which had earlier been deemed a 'clerical error'.

Demonstrations were held in support of the religious parties on Saturday as the operation in Islamabad went underway. Protests and roadblocks, which had paralysed life in various cities across the country, have resumed for a second day on Sunday, with demonstrators condemning Saturday's operation.

In Karachi, Shahrah-i-Pakistan remained blocked on Sunday with oil tankers lined up along the highway since 2am.

A large number of protesters gathered at Karachi's Numaish Chowrangi told DawnNews that they would continue their demonstrations until either their leaders in Faizabad told them to stop or their demands for Law Minister Zahid Hamid's resignation were fulfilled.

The protesters continued to chant anti-government slogans.

In Lahore, enraged protesters set fire to a police checkpoint at Expressway near Rawat. The Grand-Trunk Road and Motorway, connecting Islamabad to Lahore, was closed.

In Peshawar, protesters gathered at Ring Road where traffic was blocked. Supporters of religious parties camped out at the Faizabad Interchange condemned Saturday's operation in Islamabad.

Earlier, protesters gathered near Kachnar Park in Islamabad set police vehicles alight early Sunday morning, police said.

Five motorcycles and one car belonging to the police personnel were set alight by the protesters, police said, adding that the vehicles were personal property.

The protest participants also pelted police personnel deployed in the area with stones.

However, as the police have not been issued instructions to take action against the protesters so far today, the latter's actions were not met with any retaliation by the forces.

Between 50 and 60 protesters have gathered at the Taramri Chowk on Islamabad's Lehtarar Road, which has been blocked.

Protest participants also picked up two police officials from Islamabad's Sohan area, police said.

According to officials, negotiations are underway with the protesters for the return of the two officials.

Towns across Sindh ─ including Badin, Chhachro, Sanghar and Tando Allahyar ─ remained closed on Sunday on the call of religious parties condemning the Islamabad operation.

A day earlier

A day earlier, at least six were killed and hundreds were wounded as violent clashes broke out between law enforcement personnel and protesters camped out at the Faizabad Interchange.

Finally acting upon court orders, security personnel launched an operation against protesters, who had amassed at the Faizabad Interchange ─ which connects Islamabad to Rawalpindi ─ on November 8. Around 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in riot gear took part in the clearance operation.

A timeline of the crisis that has gripped Islamabad for the past 18 days

The operation was launched after several attempts by the government to hold talks with the protesters failed, with the latter remaining adamant on the matter of the law minister's resignation.

The use of tear gas, rubber bullets and batons by security personnel met with fierce resistance by protesters, who increased in number as the operation continued through the day.

At least 150 protesters were arrested before security forces withdrew.