ISLAMABAD: Police, on Friday night, launched a crackdown against activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), DawnNews reported.

Scores of protesters, returning to their homes from the venues of the sit-ins were arrested in the twin cities, as check posts were set up at a large number of points in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Heavy contingent of police personnel was also deployed outside the Red zone area of the federal capital city.

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Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Sajid Zafar Gondal imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) in the city.

Under the section, pillion ridding, all kinds of gatherings of five or more persons, processions/rallies and demonstrations at any public place have been prohibited.

Furthermore, carrying of firearms by ordinary citizens, the use of loudspeakers and sound amplifiers, the stock, sale, purchase and use of fire crackers and the distribution of hand-bills, pamphlets, affixing of posters and wall-chalking were all also banned.

Meanwhile, police raids at residences of PTI and PAT sympathisers and activists in Lahore, Gujranwala and Mandi Bahaudin were also reported.

Arrested political workers were reportedly shifted to undisclosed locations.

According to media reports, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera was stationed at Punjab House, where several options to vacate constitutional avenue are under consideration.

On the other hand protestors in Islamabad's Red Zone area reportedly 'rounded up' two policemen from the venue of the PTI sit-in. The plaint-clothed men were later identified as officials of the police's Special Branch and were questioned by organisers of the PTI sit-in.

— Yasir Malik contributed to the reporting from the PTI sit-in venue