Imran Khan alleged on Sunday that the government temporarily blocked YouTube in Pakistan so that his political rally speech could not be viewed live.
Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has been indicted under anti-terror statutes for allegedly threatening police officials and a judge.
In a speech he delivered on Saturday, he allegedly issued threats against Islamabad’s police chief and a female judge in response to the detention and suspected torture of a close aide facing sedition charges.
On Sunday, the nephew of Mr. Khan tweeted, “An arrest attempt may occur between 4 am and 6 am.
“I suggest that attorneys call for a nationwide strike. The entire nation will close. Leader Imran Khan represents a red line.”
Senior members of Mr. Khan’s political party Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is currently in opposition, shared footage of thousands of fans outside Mr. Khan’s residence on social media. Hundreds stayed there on Monday morning.
Mr. Khan’s attorney, Bawar Awan, petitioned the High Court of Islamabad for protective bail, which would prevent his detention.
Under Pakistan’s legal system, police submit what is known as a first information report to a magistrate with charges against an accused individual, who then permits the investigation to continue. The police then often arrest and question the suspect.
Earlier, the politician accused the government of momentarily censoring YouTube in the country to prevent people from seeing a live stream of a political rally address he delivered.
The Pakistani regulator of electronic media ordered a ban on live broadcasts of Mr. Khan’s talks because of his “hate speech” against state institutions.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in a statement released on Saturday, “Mr. Imran Khan is consistently leveling bogus claims and propagating hate speech through his aggressive statements against state institutions in his speeches and pronouncements.”
PEMRA stated that, with immediate effect, it was prohibiting news channels from airing his live speeches, but that recorded talks could be broadcast.
PEMRA noted that Mr. Khan’s speeches were “detrimental to the maintenance of law and order and liable to disrupt public peace and tranquillity.”
Mr. Khan, who has been advocating for new elections in Pakistan since his April ouster, has been delivering emotional speeches at rallies across the nation.
