Protests break out in Pakistan as Imran Khan urges public to continue with fight even if he is killed

As the supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with the police outside his residence in Lahore, the cricketer-turned-politician has released a video asking people "not accept slavery even if he is killed or jailed".

Protests have broken out in Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi after the former Pakistan PM called people to "come out" for real freedom and continue the struggle, amid clashes between the police and his party workers who gathered outside his residence here to foil his arrest.

Sharing the video on Twitter, Khan wrote, "My message to the nation to stand resolute and fight for Haqeeqi Azadi & rule of law." He appealed to people to come out of their homes for their rights, according to Pakistan-based Dawn.

"If something happens to me and I am sent to jail or if I am killed, you have to prove that you will struggle without Imran Khan and not accept the slavery of these thieves and of the one person who has been making decisions for the country," he said.

PtI leader Ch Fawad Hussain urged people to gather in street to show solidarity with Imran Khan."People of Pakistan should gather in the squares and intersections wherever they are and record a peaceful protest to show solidarity with Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaf organizations should play a role in making this protest peaceful and announce the place," he said on Twitter.

On the other hand, the cops arrived at Imran Khan's Zaman Park house to arrest him, but the supporters of Khan clashed with them due to which the cops used tear gas against the protestors. In the clips doing rounds on social media sites, the PTI workers are seen throwing stones at the security men.

Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit.

The Islamabad police said that five of its officials, including Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Shahzad Bukhari, who was leading the police team, had been injured after stones were pelted from the roof of Zaman Park.

"Despite the pelting of stones, police refrained from taking extreme measures," Islamabad police said on Twitter. PTI leader Shireen Mazari shared a video in which tear gas could be seen entering Khan's residence.

"They're shelling Imran Khan's house too, a leader who requested everyone to stay peaceful and patient. Democracy seems to be suspended in the country, no?" the official Twitter handle of the party tweeted. Intermittent tear gas shelling is ongoing at Zaman Park as police is currently camped out at a security barrier outside the neighbourhood, Dawn newspaper reported.

Khan's supporters, however, have laid siege to the path leading to his residence. PTI's deputy leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi earlier said that the party leadership is ready to find out a "possible way out" to avert bloodshed.

"Show me the warrant. I will first read and understand it. Then, I will speak to Imran Khan and my lawyers," he told the police. Khan's party moved the Islamabad High Court against the arrest warrants issued in the Toshakhana case. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq fixed the hearing for Wednesday while rejecting the party's request to conduct the hearing today.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, however, said that officials would arrest Khan in accordance with the court's directives and produce him in court. President Arif Alvi has said that he was "deeply saddened" by Tuesday's events.

"Unhealthy revenge politics. Poor priorities of [a] government of a country that should focus on economic misery of the people," he said. "Are we destroying political landscape? Am concerned about safety and dignity of @ImranKhanPTI like that of all politicians," he said.

Earlier, the Lahore police had registered an FIR against Khan and 400 others for the murder of Shah. This is the 81th FIR against Khan since the PML-N led federal coalition came into power 11 months ago after toppling his government through a no-confidence motion.

Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan.

With inputs from PTI