Dozens of PTI workers arrested from outside Imran Khan’s residence

islamabad — Police have arrested 30 workers from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party ahead of planned protests to shut down the capital on Wednesday, a PTI official said on Saturday, as the party cancelled a rally in the capital.

On Friday, supporters of PTI leader Imran Khan, a former cricket hero, clashed with police in Rawalpindi, 20km from Islamabad, and Khan accused the government of placing him under virtual house arrest.

Khan has vowed to ‘lock down’ Islamabad on Wednesday in a bid to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over allegations of corruption linked to the Panama Papers leaks. Police say they will block any such attempt.

Chaudhry Rizwan, a senior PTI official for Islamabad, said 30 people were arrested overnight from outside Khan’s home, where some supporters slept.

A reporter saw more than 100 police officers, some in riot gear,

I came here because I think of Pakistan, and things are very bad here. there is too much corruption here

Dost Mohammed, Imran supporter

posted near Khan’s residence.

“Today’s rally has been cancelled. For now, whatever will happen will be at Khan’s Bani Gala residence,” added Rizwan.

PTI’s rally on Saturday was scheduled to act as a prelude for Wednesday’s attempt to lock down Islamabad.

There were about 80 PTI supporters near Khan’s road, vowing to protect their leader and demanding that Sharif stand down.

“I came here because I think of Pakistan, and things are very bad here. There is too much corruption here,” said Dost Mohammed, 30, a tailor from Swat region who camped outside Khan’s home overnight. — Reuters