Pakistan's government accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday of sheltering aides and supporters wanted over attacks on the army following his arrest last week, and warned he had 24 hours to hand them over or face a police operation.

Khan's arrest and the violence that followed has deepened political instability in the South Asian nation of 220 million. Pakistan has been facing its worst-ever economic crisis, with a long delay in securing IMF funding critical to avert a balance of payment crisis.

Punjab province's information minister Amir Mir said intelligence and law enforcement agencies had identified that some 30 to 40 people accused of attacking military installations were hiding at Khan's home in the eastern city of Lahore.

"We're giving an ultimatum that these terrorists should be turned over to the police, or else there will be action," Mir told a news conference in the city. He warned Khan had 24 hours to surrender the suspects, and that a police operation would be launched if he did not comply.

Khan's aide Iftikhar Durrani said the accusation that he was sheltering people suspected of involvement in the violence carried no weight, and repeated his call for an independent inquiry.