A large number of Punjab police personnel on Thursday surrounded the house of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan in Lahore and may launch a security operation any time to arrest the “terrorists” allegedly holed up in his residence as the government’s 24-hour deadline to hand them over expired.

The caretaker Punjab government says the police action at Khan’s Zaman Park residence is expected any time soon as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief has failed to meet the deadline to hand over the terrorists.

Senior police officer Hasan Bhatti on Thursday claimed that they arrested eight people from the Zaman Park area who are suspected to be involved in the attacks on the army installations on May 9.

Khan’s party disputed the claim, saying the police brought a bunch of arrested individuals to Zaman Park to prove that they had been taken into custody outside their leader’s residence.

The policemen armed with heavy machinery have taken positions near Zaman Park. Police have also blocked all roads leading to Khan’s residence by erecting barriers. Jammers have been placed in the area. Citing sources, Geo News reported that the inspector general of Punjab police and the capital city police officer has asked the police to remain “vigilant”.

On Wednesday, Punjab’s caretaker Information minister Amir Mir claimed that some “30 to 40” terrorists were hiding inside Khan’s Zaman Park residence and gave an ultimatum of 24 hours to the chief to hand them over or face stern action.

The minister said on Thursday that as the deadline expired the police may raid Zaman Park to arrest the terrorists including Khan’s nephew Hassan Niazi.

Rejecting the Punjab government’s claim that some 40 terrorists are hiding inside his Lahore home, Khan said the government must search the house in a lawful manner after obtaining a search warrant because his own life was also in danger.