Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman (PTI) Imran Khan on Thursday deplored the country’s economic situation, saying the country is on the verge of default and foreign banks were being told that Pakistan did not have the ability to return loans.

Addressing the marchers in Dina, Quaidabad, Peshawar and Chakdara, Khan reiterated that Pakistan was witnessing record inflation.

“The government should be focusing on this. But instead, it is only trying to end its corruption cases.” he said.

The former prime minister said that the corruption cases concerning millions of rupees had been wrapped up while the incumbent government had also passed laws in this regard.

He stated that “Pakistan’s default risk rose from 75% to 80% in a single day.”

He said that banks abroad were being told that Pakistan did not have the ability to return loans. He went on to say that due to this, banks would refrain from giving the country loans.

Imran said that dollar inflows had also dried up, which would in turn create pressure on the Pakistani rupee. “This will also scare away those who want to invest in the country.”

“Exports and remittances have plunged as well. A food crisis is in the making in Pakistan because agricultural productivity has fallen.”

He accused the government of “committing treason by closing cases on its party workers at the cost of the economy.

Regarding agriculture, he highlighted that farmers’ expenses had increased during the incumbent coalition government’s tenure.

“The sale of tractor and DAP fertilizer has reduced by 45% and 75%, respectively,” he added.

“When we left, industrial progress stood at 27%, while it stands at 1% today. The nation is at a loss of Rs11 billion,” Khan reiterated his concerns for the country’s economy.

Khan further claimed that remittances from overseas Pakistanis are decreasing while sharing concerns about Pakistan’s default increasing pressure on the rupee.

The former premier said that 50 million Pakistanis live below the poverty level.

Moreover, PTI chief claimed that the government was introducing changes in the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 in an effort to bring in an army chief who could “protect them”.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan told the nation that this was a “defining moment” for the country.

“When a nation stands up and decides not to succumb under oppression […] they are unstoppable. God has instructed us to stand against oppressors.”

Imran Khan further said that free and fair elections were the only way forward. “Through the party’s march, the nation wants to give the message that it does not accept the rulers imposed on them,” he said.

According to Imran Khan, the government was working with Geo News to spread “propaganda” against his party.

“I am doing a case against them in the United Kingdom, in London and Dubai. I will expose them. Media houses formed in the name of freedom of speech are doing propaganda.”

Imran Khan still fears for his life

Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI, said he still worried another attempt on his life in the near future after having a close call with death when he was shot during his long march protest in Wazirabad, Punjab.

“They believe that my elimination would be the only effective method to remove me from the situation. Therefore, I believe that there is still a threat.” In an interview with France24, Khan said.

Khan asserted that there was a second gunman at the rally in the eastern city of Wazirabad and that the suspect who was detained was only a ruse.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who had a close brush with death after he was shot during his long march protest in Wazirabad, Punjab, said he still dreaded another bid on his life in the near future.

“They think that the only way to get me out of the way is actually [to] eliminate me. So I think that there is a threat, still,” Khan said in an interview with France24.

Khan claimed that the suspect arrested was merely a decoy and that there was another gunman at the rally in the eastern city of Wazirabad.

The former premier said he only trusted the chief justice to conduct an independent investigation, arguing that any other probe would be sabotaged by the government.