PAKISTAN’S former Prime Minister Imran Khan today pressed his legal battle before a court in the capital, Islamabad, which granted him protection from arrest until early next month where he faces terrorism charges for inciting violence.

The development comes as the authorities have been cracking down on the supporters of Mr Khan, now Pakistan’s top opposition leader. 

Thousands staged violent protests and attacked public property and military installations following Mr Khan’s arrest earlier this month.

The violence subsided only days later, after Mr Khan was released on the orders of the country’s Supreme Court. Ten people were killed in clashes with the police.

After being ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April last year, Mr Khan has campaigned against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, claiming his removal was illegal and demanding early elections.

Since then, the former cricket star has become embroiled in more than 100 legal cases against him. 

He faces corruption charges allegedly committed while he was in office and has been charged with terrorism in eight cases over the violent protests by his supporters and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party.

Mr Khan denies any wrongdoing.