A few hours after Imran Khan announced on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, police began a crackdown on PTI in both Lahore and Islamabad.

Islamabad

Police raided the house of Shibli Faraz late on Sunday evening but failed to arrest him. Shibli Faraz was injured in the calshes between PTI workers and police at the judicial complex in Islamabad. PTI alleged that Shibli’s family was also harrassed by the police.

Asad Umar tweeted that a ‘large scale’ operation is underway in Islamabad and families of political workers are being harassed.

PTI leaders Ali Nawaz Awan and Khurram Nawaz could also not been arrested despite raids at their house.

Aaj News reported that over 20 workers have been arrested in Islamabad. In many cases the police is taking away male members of the household if a PTI leader can’t be arrested.

Lahore

Police raided the house of PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood but failed to arrest him as the leader was not at home.

PTI also said that the house of Mian Salman Shoaib had been raided and his family harrased. Police broke down doors and allegedly damaged a child’s cradle as well.

Aaj News reported that police stations across the city have prepared lists of active political workers and arrests are being made to avoid organisation for Wednesday’s rally. The lists contain names of people including Hammad Azhar, Shafqat Mahmood and other frontline leaders as well.

PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid also claimed that another operation on Zaman Park has been planned.

She alleged that the attack will take place around 3am.

This story is being updated.