Imran Khan to appear before court on March 18, says ‘was mentally prepared to be arrested’

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is likely to be arrested in the Toshakhana case, is now set to appear before the Lahore High Court on March 18.

In a letter to the president of the Lahore High Court bar, Khan on Wednesday assured he would appear before the court on the said date.

On Tuesday, Imran Khan said he was mentally prepared to get arrested.

“I am mentally prepared because there’s a huge force outside. They have not just the police, they’ve got rangers there too, which is the army. And it seems as if Pakistan’s biggest terrorist is holed up inside,” Imran Khan told Al Jazeera amid the showdown between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and the police over his likely arrest.

“I think they are determined, the reason why they want to rescue is not that they’re worried about rule of law, but because the biggest criminals are right now sitting in government, 60 per cent of the cabinet is on bail on corruption cases,” Khan was quoted as saying.

“They are petrified of the popularity of my party and so they want to remove me from the electoral contest,” Imran Khan said, adding, “according to all opinion polls, we would sweep this upcoming election and that’s why they want me removed from the scene.”

During the interview, Imran Khan also talked about a video wherein he asked his supporters to come out and fight for their “freedom”, saying that his request was not meant to be taken as a signal to break out into violent protests.

“Fight for their freedom means fighting for their fundamental rights, which means peacefully protesting for what you believe, the constitution and the law of the land. Never in my 26 years of politics have I ever asked my workers ever to be violent,” Khan said.

Further, the former Pakistan prime minister claimed that a bid was made on his life as the PTI is in a position to win the provincial elections in the country, and, it was for the same reason that the government was trying to put him in jail.

The PTI chief claimed he was facing threats to his life and will approach the Supreme Court for hearing cases at a safe place or allow his appearance via video link.