Islamabad, Sep 13 - Pakistani forces are 'closing the dragnet' around Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah and he could be arrested soon, a media report said Sunday.

Sources told The News that the noose around Maulana Fazlullah and his band of close associates has been tightened and 'his arrest, or elimination, at the hands of security forces could happen within the next 24 hours'.

Details about Fazlullah's whereabouts have been given by captured Taliban leader Muslim Khan. He is reported to have pinpointed a couple of most secret hiding dens of his commander.

The source also indicated that the 'arrest' of Muslim Khan may well be a negotiated surrender with security forces giving it the cover of being an arrest to retain Muslim Khan's credibility and protect his near and dear ones from Fazlullah's deadly reprisal against any perceived act of betrayal.