PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to topple the PTI government in Punjab, alleging that his ministers in the province were being threatened to accept bribes by "Mr X and Mr Y".

Addressing a rally in Chishtian, he said that PTI's Punjab lawmakers were being offered bribes worth millions of rupees. "And Mr X and Mr Y are threatening them to accept these bribes."

Imran implied that the Punjab government would be toppled via a no-trust vote and subsequently showed a series of past statements by PML-N leaders where they could could be heard saying that the establishment played a "third party" role in the no-confidence movement against him earlier this year.

"So if the no-confidence vote succeeds in Punjab, then according to them [the PML-N], it will be done by the establishment," he said.

Elaborating on his claim further, the PTI chief stated that the "conspiracy was being hatched" to bring PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif back to the country.

However, Imran said that he was unfazed by Nawaz's return. "I am waiting for you to come back. And when you do, it is my promise that the nation will welcome you in a way which has never been seen before in the country."

But, the PTI chief contended, "while the nation is reeling from floods and there is an economic crisis, you are playing these political gimmicks". "Don't you have any care for the country and its people? You are destroying everything."

Imran also criticised the suspension of YouTube service across Pakistan during his Peshawar rally yesterday, saying that the government was cracking down on journalists supporting PTI and channels showing his speeches out of fear.

"They are scared and want to disqualify me," he said, adding that it was why "fake cases" were being registered against him. "But now that all of their techniques are failing, they are trying to turn the institutions — army and judiciary — against me.

"But, let me warn you, no matter what you do, you will be defeated," the PTI chief added.