A COURT in Pakistan decided today to shield former prime minister Imran Khan until at least next week. 

This comes amid a roiling political crisis that has pitted the ex-cricketer against the current government and spilled over into street protests.

Mr Khan was ousted through a no-confidence vote in Parliament last April. Since then he has become embroiled in more than 100 legal cases against him, including corruption while in office.

The court order prevents his arrest until March 27 over accusations that he incited supporters from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party to violence when he failed to appear before a court in the capital Islamabad because of hours-long clashes between his party and the police.

Since November, Mr Khan has avoided appearances before courts in Islamabad in at least three cases, including a corruption charge, when he was wounded in a gun attack at a protest rally in the eastern Punjab province. 

Mr Khan, who denies all charges against him, says his life is in danger and that’s why he is seeking bail to avoid appearances before judges in multiple cases.

The former prime minister claims that he is being victimised by the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.