The Lahore High Court (LHC) granted relief to embattled ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday by ordering police not to arrest him until 10 am Thursday.
The LHC's ruling came after supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) clashed with police for the second consecutive day following the previous day's drama, in which a senior police officer was injured.
While the police tear-gassed PTI workers who had surrounded Khan's Zaman Park residence in Lahore, his supporters responded by pelting stones and rocks at the officers.
"The police and rangers sent to harm Imran Khan were pushed back by the people," PTI tweeted, sharing a video of his admirers celebrating the news outside his home.
Earlier, Khan alleged that repeated attempts to arrest him were nothing but "mere drama" as they intended to "abduct and assassinate" him.
"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," Khan tweeted this morning.
The Toshakhana case against the 1992 Cricket World Cup-winning skipper began last year in August when National Assembly speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf alleged that he illegally sold gifts he received when he was Pakistan's PM from 2018 to 2022.
The Election Commission (ECP) subsequently investigated the allegations and found him guilty of wrongdoing.
The ECP then filed a case against Khan in an anti-corruption court, with the judicial body framing charges in February 2023.