Imran Khan Seen Wearing Gas Mask As He Meets PTI Supporters Amid Zaman Park Tussle — WATCH

PTI chief Imran Khan was seen wearing a gas mask while apparently meeting his party supporters. He also alleged that the "real intent" behind arresting him "is to abduct and assassinate."

Imran Khan, the former Pakistan prime minister and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was seen wearing a gas mask while apparently meeting his supporters as authorities in Lahore's Zaman Park on Wednesday stepped up their efforts to arrest him in a corruption case.

Cricketer Shaharyar Ejaz shared a video where Imran Khan was seen wearing a gas mask. "Captain leading from the Front," he tweeted.

This video comes as the PTI chief alleged the attempt to arrest him was "mere drama" because "the real intent is to abduct and assassinate."

"Clearly "arrest" claim was mere drama because real intent is to abduct & assassinate. From tear gas & water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing. I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent," he tweeted earlier in the day.

He claimed that his party workers and leadership faced police assault and were attacked with "tear gas, cannons with chemical water, rubber bullets & live bullets."

The former prime minister questioned the establishment saying, "Is this your idea of neutrality, Rangers directly confronting unarmed protestors & ldrship of largest pol party when their ldr is facing an illegal warrant & case already in court & when govt of crooks trying to abduct & possibly murder him?" 

Before this, in a video address to his supporters, Imran Khan accused the federal government of planning his arrest as a part of a “London Plan” to finish all cases against the country’s former premier Nawaz Sharif. 

In the video message, Imran said, "This is part of the London plan and an agreement has been signed there to put Imran in jail, make the PTI fall and finish all cases against Nawaz Sharif."

He remarked he didn’t understand the reason behind the attack when he had already assured that he would appear before the court on March 18. 

More On It: Part Of The 'London Plan' To Have Me Arrested: Imran Khan As Protests Break Out In Several Cities

At Least 54 Policemen And Eight Civilians Were Injured In Clashes: Report

Authorities in Pakistan's Punjab province deployed the elite Rangers outside Imran Khan's residence, a day after clashes with police left over 60 people injured, including 54 policemen, news agency PTI reported.

Lahore's Zaman Park area has turned into a battleground after 70-year-old Khan's defiant supporters engaged in pitched battles with policemen on Tuesday to stop them from arresting their leader in the Toshakhana case, resulting in injuries on both sides.

The injured were shifted to Lahore's hospitals and police arrested dozens of Khan's supporters.

At least 54 policemen and eight civilians were injured in the clashes that have been ongoing since Tuesday afternoon, Geo News reported citing hospital sources.

The police, with their riot gear on, closed in on Khan's home in order to comply with the court orders to arrest him in the Toshakhana case.

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 PTI has declared that it would not let law enforcement agencies arrest Khan as it fears he may be poisoned in jail.