Pakistani high court delays Imran Khan arrest until Friday

Security forces used tear-gas and water cannon this week to break up crowds resisting the arrest of the former prime minister outside his house

Supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan outside his house in Lahore on Wednesday. Reuters

Police in Pakistan have been ordered by a judge to delay the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan until Friday, his aide has said.

Lahore's High Court asked authorities to sit with Mr Khan and leaders from his party to "resolve these issues through mutual consultation", said former information and law minister Fawad Chaudry, who is also a close adviser to Mr Khan.

It follows a similar suspension on Wednesday evening after police clashed with Mr Khan's supporters.

The order ended a siege of about 24 hours around Mr Khan's home, where police have been stationed several times.

Police said security forces were withdrawn to accommodate cricket's Pakistan Super League, the country's top sporting event, at a stadium a few kilometres away.

Mr Khan's arrest was ordered after he failed to attend court hearings related to corruption charges filed against him.

Judge Zafar Iqbal has said he is willing to order an end to the police operation if Mr Khan surrenders himself in court.

“This matter can be resolved in a second … where is Imran Khan?" he said in a Thursday hearing as reported by Dawn News.

The judge also hit out at the cost of the police operation, saying the arrest warrant was costing "millions of rupees".

“This is the money of the public. You could have held a peaceful protest.”

Clashes broke out earlier this week between police and Mr Khan's supporters from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, who have camped outside his home in recent months to protest against the attempts to arrest him.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon, local media reported, while Mr Khan's supporters wielded sticks and threw stones.

Mr Khan has faced a series of legal challenges since being ousted in a vote of no-confidence in April last year.

A court in September quashed terrorism charges filed against him after he allegedly threatened police and judicial officers.

He faces corruption charges after he was accused of selling state gifts while in power.

Rolex watches among expensive gifts

Details of the allegations were released on Sunday, with local media reporting Mr Khan sold several high-value items, including six Rolex watches.

He has held several rallies demanding early elections, including a demonstration on Monday as police sought to arrest him.

He shared a statement from the Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday, thanking them for condemning "excessive use of force" against his supporters at Zaman Park.

"The police excess" in Lahore is a "sheer violation of fundamental rights of the citizens of this country", said association president Abid Zuberi and secretary Muqtedir Shabbar.

It echoed claims from Mr Khan's lawyer that protesters had been beaten by police in what he called "a political vendetta".

“In more than three incidents, there have been instances of torture and cases have been filed," Khawaja Harris said.

Mr Khan was shot and wounded at a rally in November — which he said was an assassination attempt orchestrated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani intelligence.

“They want me in jail so that I cannot contest elections,” he told AFP on Wednesday. He also referred to his arrest as an “abduction”.

“This abduction had nothing to do with rule of law,” Mr Khan said. “It's the law of the jungle.”