Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested the chief justice of Pakistan to permit him to look for courtroom proceedings nearly to scale back the chance of any menace to his life, he mentioned in a video message on Monday, as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social gathering ready for a rally in Lahore on Wednesday.

Supporters of Khan’s social gathering, 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 look earlier than a courtroom on Saturday.

“My life is at risk, why should I seem in courtroom,” mentioned Khan in a reside video stream, asking to look by video convention for courtroom proceedings and vowing: “I’ll seem for all circumstances”.

Additionally Learn: Imran Khan vows authorized motion towards ‘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 current clashes with the safety forces, Khan’s social gathering 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 yr.

Khan, 70, is going through a number of authorized circumstances, together with one which prompted a failed try and arrest him on Tuesday after a courtroom issued warrants for his arrest for not showing earlier than it.

Additionally Learn: Former Pak PM Imran Khan granted protecting bail in 8 terrorism circumstances, 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 circumstances on varied prices, together with terrorism, have been registered towards 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 during which 58 individuals have been injured and greater than a dozen automobiles, 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, gained appreciable help amongst sections of the citizens together with his conservative, nationalistic insurance policies.