Police in the Pakistani eastern city of Lahore Sunday arrested seven persons after firing near the shrine where two suicide bombers killed 45 persons and injured 175 on July 1st, police said.

Anti-terror police force on suspicion raided hotels and markets near "Datta Darbar" shrine during search operation.

The arrested men were taken to undisclosed location for questioning, police sources said.

Police cordoned off the area after reports of shooting. Search operation was launched in the nearby area.

One of the suspects is an Afghan national, according to police.

The firing near the shrine continued for more than three minutes as police evacuated the adjacent area, the private TV ARY NEWS reported.

The police was on high alert outside the shrine after the deadliest suicide bombings. Witnesses said police fired in the air before the arrests and TV footage showed the police dragging the suspects into police vehicles.

Severe tense gripped the area following the firing incident. People inside the shrine also left the place as fear gripped the area.

It is pertinent to mention that Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, was scheduled to visit Data Darbar Sunday but he has not arrived there till last reports received.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shrine attacks and the interior minister has blamed the Taliban and two other banned extremis groups for the attacks. Taliban have denied any involvement.