ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan directed his party leaders in Punjab province on Sunday to make preparations for early elections, said the local media, as he predicted the coalition government would have to call fresh polls in the country within the next few weeks.

Khan, who was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote earlier this year, issued the instructions while holding meetings with the senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), in the eastern city of Lahore.

The top PTI leader has been demanding fresh elections in Pakistan since his administration was driven out of power in April. The coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, however, has vowed to complete its tenure amid growing political uncertainty and tough economic challenges.

“Some PTI leaders quoted the party chairman [Khan] as claiming that the announcement for the general election could be made within two months, as the deteriorating economic conditions could bring the incumbent federal government to its knees while making it difficult for it to rule the country,” Pakistan’s local Dawn newspaper reported. “Therefore, he said, all party cadres should be ready for the purpose instead of being caught off guard.”

Apart from PTI lawmakers in Punjab, Khan held a meeting with the new chief minister of the province, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, and asked his government to strengthen relief work in the flood-affected areas.

The PTI chief also instructed his former adviser, Dr. Sania Nishtar, to restore PTI’s flagship social welfare program, Ehsaas, while pointing out it had been halted by the previous Punjab administration, though it was designed to help the poor.