Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested the chief justice of Pakistan to permit him to seem for court docket proceedings just about to scale back the danger of any menace to his life, he mentioned in a video message on Monday, as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) occasion ready for a rally in Lahore on Wednesday.
Supporters of Khan’s occasion, clashed with police within the metropolis of Lahore final week as they tried to arrest him at his residence, and later with police in Islamabad as he arrived to seem earlier than a court docket on Saturday.
“My life is in peril, why should I seem in court docket,” mentioned Khan in a dwell video stream, asking to seem by video convention for court docket proceedings and vowing: “I’ll seem for all instances”.
Additionally Learn: Imran Khan vows authorized motion in opposition to ‘each officer’ concerned in home raid
Police in Pakistan have arrested dozens of supporters and aides of Khan in raids in two cities as a part of a crackdown on these concerned in latest clashes with the safety forces, Khan’s occasion and police mentioned on Monday.
Khan, a former cricket star, was prime minister from 2018 till 2022, when he was ousted from workplace in a parliamentary vote. Since then he has been demanding a snap election and holding protest rallies throughout the nation to press his case.
His successor as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has rejected his demand and mentioned an election can be held as scheduled later this 12 months.
Khan, 70, is going through a number of authorized instances, together with one which prompted a failed try to arrest him on Tuesday after a court docket issued warrants for his arrest for not showing earlier than it.
Additionally Learn: Former Pak PM Imran Khan granted protecting bail in 8 terrorism instances, one civil case
Clashes between Khan’s supporters and the safety forces have introduced a brand new spherical of political chaos to Pakistan, which is within the midst of a crippling financial disaster.
Khan says the federal government and the highly effective navy are attempting to cease him from contesting the following election, scheduled for November. If convicted in a case, Khan might face disqualification from the polls.
Each the federal government and navy deny this.
Police in each Lahore and Islamabad confirmed the raids and the arrest of PTI employees they mentioned have been concerned in clashes with police and arson.
“Police are raiding the homes as a result of seven instances on numerous expenses, together with terrorism, have been registered in opposition to the leaders and employees,” Lahore police chief Bilal Kamiana advised Reuters referring to the clashes with police.
He mentioned 125 activists had been arrested in Lahore, together with some final week.
In Islamabad, a police spokesman mentioned 198 PTI supporters had been arrested in reference to arson and assaults on police through which 58 individuals have been injured and greater than a dozen autos, together with some police automobiles, have been set ablaze.
Extra raids have been being carried out, the spokesman mentioned.
Khan, remembered by many for his success as a cricket participant and later for his charity work, received appreciable help amongst sections of the citizens together with his conservative, nationalistic insurance policies.