ISLAMABAD: At least nine activists of the Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), including its political secretary Asad Abbas, were arrested by police and Rangers early on Friday, the party’s spokesman said.

According to MWM spokesman Hasnain Zaidi, a heavy contingent of police and Rangers came into the main party office and a guest house situated in the G-6 sector in Islamabad around 6am and arrested the nine activists.

Zaidi said police knew of the activists' whereabouts before they decided to carry out the arrests.

The arrested workers have been shifted to an unknown location, the spokesman said, adding that the party's central leadership found the development alarming and condemnable. Political Secretary Abbas, who was also arrested, is a member of the negotiation committee of the protesting Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

However, police has refuted claims from the party's spokesman, saying no MWM activists have been taken into custody.