New Delhi: As a crucial no-confidence vote is scheduled against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Parliament today, the cricketer-turned-political urged his supporters to organise peaceful protests when the "new imported government" comes into power.
Khan may turn out to be the first prime minister in Pakistan's history to be voted out in a no-confidence motion.
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Khan, who has weak chance of surviving the no-confidence motion expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's verdict on the National Assembly deputy speaker's controversial decision regarding the no-trust motion against him.
Top Developments In Pakistan Politics
Addressing the nation on Friday, PM Imran Khan said "I will not accept this imported government, I will take to street. Only people can bring me to power and I will come back with the help of the people."
He added that his supporters should come out on Sunday evening after the new government is expected to be set up.
He targeted the Opposition over fresh elections, asking leaders to face the nation with him, "That is why I dissolved the assembly because I want people to elect the new government," he said. "I am ready for the struggle join me in peaceful protest," said Khan, who has effectively lost the majority in the 342-member house.
A total of 172 members in the 342-member house will be required by the Opposition to orchestrate the downfall of Prime Minister Khan. There is already support of more than the needed strength.
In a historic 5-0 verdict, a five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday unanimously struck down the deputy speaker's ruling on the rejection of the no-confidence motion against Khan and ordered restoration of the National Assembly, citing that the PM's move to dissolve Parliament and call early elections was "unconstitutional".
The court also ordered the speaker of the lower house to call the session of the national assembly on April 9 at 10 am (local time) to organise a no-confidence vote.
"I respect the Supreme Court and the judiciary, but the apex court should have looked at a threat letter before issuing its verdict, Khan said in his address perhaps last to the nation as the prime minister of the country.
In recent weeks, Khan has talked about a 'threat letter' and claimed that it was part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy.
Sticking to the allegations that a US diplomat threatened regime change in Pakistan, Khan said that during the meeting between the Pakistani ambassador and the US official, the latter complained that I [Imran Khan] should not have visited [Russia].
He asked the people to come out and reject the foreign conspiracy to remove the government. "If you are not standing up, no one will come to save you, he said.
Pakistan Govt Forms Commission To Probe Foreign Conspiracy
In order to investigate the alleged foreign conspiracy behind the no-confidence motion against embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pakistan government has formed a commission led by a retired Army officer, a senior minister said on Friday.
However, the retired Army officer has refused to head the commission, Geo News reported, citing sources within the officer's family.
The decision on setting up the commission was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Khan, informed minister for information Fawad Chaudhry.
In fact, the government will present the contents of the threat letter, which allegedly contains "evidence" of a foreign conspiracy against Khan in the National Assembly on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Opposition parties on Friday submitted a no-confidence motion against the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, accusing him of acting in a "blatantly partisan manner" in favour of the government and failing to conduct proceedings in an orderly manner to enable a productive debate on issues of public importance.