BAHAWALPUR, May 10: Police continued to arrest the activists of the PML-N in the Punjab on Monday even in the face of strong criticism by the party men, who pledged to give a rousing reception to their leader Mian Shahbaz Sharif. The raids were going on till last reports came in at night.

In a major crackdown in Bahawalpur, police arrested 20 of the party leaders and workers to prevent them from receiving their exiled leader. Those held included Saud Majid, who will be detained for three months under 16-MPO, city president Akmal Bhatti, Chaudhry Iqbal Gulab, party leader Samiul Haq's brother Khalid and 12 activists of the youth wing, who displayed fireworks at Trust Colony on Sunday night.

Mr Majid and others were also planning to travel to Lahore to welcome Mr Sharif at his residence in Model Town. Earlier, police rounded up 35 youngsters from Trust Colony and set them free this morning.

PML-N District President Chaudhry Mumtaz Ahmad Jajja, former parliamentary secretary Samiullah Chaudhry and several others have already gone into hiding. Meanwhile, three PML-N leaders, who were arrested in Lahore the other day, were shifted to the Bahawalpur central jail. They are Mian Shahbaz Sharif's personal secretary Muhammad Naushad, MPA Rana Mashood Ahmad (Lahore) and labour councillor Muhammad Pervez alias Bodi Pehlwan.

KASUR: The district police raided houses and offices of many PML-N activists, including District Secretary-General Waseem Ahmad. They allegedly threatened the female members and children during the raids.