Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson and former prime minister Imran Khan said that inaction on the part of the coalition government over the economic crisis could result in the country's sovereignty being 'compromised'.
Addressing lawyers at a convention hosted by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, the former prime minister said that the ruling coalition 'did not have a plan in mind', and if they were to remain in power, Pakistan would reach economic ruin.
"The government may take the country to a point where those who come to bail us out may put forward a condition that will compromise our sovereignty and our independence," he said.
"The direction in which Pakistan has headed, I fear that we will end up just like Sri Lanka. There has been an economic collapse there and I fear that we are headed in the same direction."
He drew an analogy to the Soviet Union, saying militarily it had been strong, but due to its weakened economic standing, it was forced to break apart.
Only 'free and fair elections' would solve the country's problems, Imran said.
He lambasted the government over the recent petrol price hikes, saying that people would be crushed under the massive inflation that would follow.
Khan said the government had no plan of action on how to solve the economic challenges, and claimed that the 'market had lost confidence in it'.
"But instead of concentrating on the economy, their only interest is in getting a second NRO," he said.
Addressing lawyers at a convention hosted by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, the former prime minister said that the ruling coalition 'did not have a plan in mind', and if they were to remain in power, Pakistan would reach economic ruin.
"The government may take the country to a point where those who come to bail us out may put forward a condition that will compromise our sovereignty and our independence," he said.
"The direction in which Pakistan has headed, I fear that we will end up just like Sri Lanka. There has been an economic collapse there and I fear that we are headed in the same direction."
He drew an analogy to the Soviet Union, saying militarily it had been strong, but due to its weakened economic standing, it was forced to break apart.
Only 'free and fair elections' would solve the country's problems, Imran said.
He lambasted the government over the recent petrol price hikes, saying that people would be crushed under the massive inflation that would follow.
Khan said the government had no plan of action on how to solve the economic challenges, and claimed that the 'market had lost confidence in it'.
"But instead of concentrating on the economy, their only interest is in getting a second NRO," he said.