ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: The vocal critics of the government are being intimidated into crossing over to the ruling alliance by conveying to them through ‘faceless’ elements that their names have been included in the list of those who will be arrested on charges similar to those levelled against Javed Hashmi, opposition leaders told Dawn.

Following the arrest of ARD President Javed Hashmi, the government considered arresting at least two more opposition leaders on different alleged charges including those of abetting ARD president Javed Hashmi, sources said.

According to sources, the intelligence operatives covering various social functions have been attempting to float among media persons names of different opposition leaders to be arrested. According to a source, the names of two opposition leaders, Saad Rafique, Secretary General PML-N Punjab, and acting President PML-N, Chaudhary Nisar, were considered for immediate arrest.

“Initially it was decided to place Chaudhary Nisar under house arrest while Saad Rafiq was to be picked up by the law enforcement agencies,” sources said.

The arrest of Javed Hashmi was a test case to gauge the political temperature in the country, an analyst said.

When asked what the government intends to achieve by leaking the names of those to be arrested, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar said, “Basically it is a government ploy to put pressure on the opposition but the effect is contrary to what the government intends to achieve.”

When asked specifically about his name being on the so far unconfirmed list, Chaudhry Nisar said: “The person who is floating my name in this regard should be identified and only then I can comment on it.”

Federal Interior Minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, while responding to a specific question about the arrest of Saad Rafiq and house arrest of Chaudhry Nisar said: “There is no such thing.”

However, the interior ministry officials, without confirming any names, did not rule out the possibility of further arrests of opposition leaders in the next few weeks.