Sumedha Dasgupta, senior Asia analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, said he still forecast that Mr Khan would survive, but said “there are significant risks surrounding the outcome, including the possible involvement of the military”.

He said: “The ousting of Mr Khan would be likely to lead to some form of caretaker government, ahead of the national elections in 2023, and potential military involvement.”

Mr Khan was elected in 2018 promising to sweep away decades of entrenched corruption and cronyism that he blamed on Pakistan’s two major political parties.

But the opposition has accused him of having been put in power by the generals and of using their support to pursue a political witch hunt against his opponents.

Meanwhile the electorate has faced crippling price hikes and a feeble rupee.

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