LAHORE, May 7: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz claimed on Friday that police had picked up scores of its workers in dozens of raids all over the province. The party workers responded by holding protests at various places in the city.

Around two dozen motorcyclists kept roaming around in the city and blocked traffic and chanted anti-government slogans wherever they had a chance. The police tried to chase them at some places, but they managed to escape.

The police did confirm a few arrests, saying that only those wanted in connection with some old cases or those trying to disrupt law and order were rounded up. "I don't have the exact figure right now," Lahore operations police chief Aftab Cheema told this reporter.

Pir Binyamin Rizvi of the PML-N said that the police were trying to foil a reception on the expected arrival of the party president, Shahbaz Sharif. He said that provincial media secretary Nasir Iqbal had been sent to jail for 90 days.

Besides, four workers were held in the North Cantonment and as many - including a councillor - in Jauhar Town. Another councillor and his two men were picked up from Naulakha, he said, adding that two more activists were arrested in Garhi Shahu.

Mr Rizvi said the police were also removing banners and posters displayed by the party in the province besides hurling threats at businessmen and transporters. He also alleged that the police had tortured and humiliated family members or employees of those workers who were not found in their houses by the raiding teams.

Citing an example, he said the police stormed into the factory of former MPA Sabir Ansari in Kasur and beat up his employees. A similar raid was conducted by police at the house of Dewan Mushtaq in Mandi Bahaudin.