'No Superpower Can Dictate Terms To India': Pakistan PM Imran Khan Ahead Of No-Trust Vote

Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Friday said that he respects the Supreme Court's decision to restore the National Assembly, but he was disappointed by the result.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing nation ahead of no-trust vote. (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said no superpower could dictate terms to India as it was a sovereign nation even as he asked the people to hit the streets on Sunday and peacefully protest against an "imported government".

In a late-night address to the nation ahead of the crucial no-trust vote against him on Saturday, Imran Khan said, "India is very proud of themselves. India does not allow any foreign power to influence its decisions. No superpower can dictate terms to them."

Imran Khan said that while he respected the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of the National Assembly, he was saddened by the verdict.

"I am upset with the Supreme Court's decision. I was upset because when the Dy Speaker conducted the probe, the Supreme Court should have investigated it," Imran Khan said.

The PM said that he strongly believed that the judiciary was the guardian of justice in the country. He said that the Supreme Court should have at least initiated the probe on the "foreign conspiracy" matter.

"I respect the Supreme Court and the judiciary, but the apex court should have looked at the threat letter before issuing the verdict," he said.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan in his address to the nation ahead of the no-trust vote said, "I am upset with the Supreme Court's decision. I was upset because when the Dy Speaker conducted the probe, the SC should have investigated it." pic.twitter.com/dtinv3gqp1

— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2022

PM Imran Khan also said that the Supreme Court did not take the "threat letter" incident as seriously as it should have.

He stated that nations must stand up to wrong, otherwise no one will defend them if they do not speak out against corruption and other ills present in the country.

He said that at a meeting between the Pakistani envoy and a US official, the latter expressed regret that "I [Imran Khan] should not have visited [Russia]."

PM Imran Khan said that even before the no-confidence motion was filed against him, a US official informed Pakistan's envoy that if Imran Khan managed to extricate himself from the motion, Pakistan would suffer "serious repercussions."

The prime minister stated that the US officials were aware that a no-confidence vote would be filed against him ahead of time, and that they also knew who would take office if the Opposition was successful in ousting him.

Levelling allegations against PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, PM Imran Khan said, "He apparently has prepared his sherwani for the oath-taking ceremony”, for being involved in this “foreign conspiracy.”

According to a statement posted on Imran Khan's official Twitter handle: "I have called a cabinet [meeting] tomorrow as well as our parliamentary party meeting, and tomorrow evening I will address the nation. My message to our nation is I have always and will continue to fight for Pakistan till the last ball."

I have called a cabinet mtg tomorrow as well as our parl party mtg; & tomorrow evening I will address the nation. My message to our nation is I have always & will continue to fight for Pak till the last ball.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 7, 2022

The Supreme Court of Pakistan reinstated the National Legislature on Thursday after declaring the government's move to dissolve the assembly and NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling to be unconstitutional.