Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says he accepts a Supreme Court ruling that ordered that the country’s parliament can go ahead with a no-confidence vote against him.
“We have accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court, but I am very disappointed because unfair things are happening openly in Pakistan, and no one is taking it seriously,” Khan said in an address to the nation on Friday.
Khan had blocked the vote and dissolved the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, last week.
The country’s top court, however, ruled late on Thursday that he had dissolved the parliament unconstitutionally, and must face the no-confidence vote.
“All actions taken are of no legal effect and quashed,” the court ruling said, adding, “The National Assembly continues to remain in session.”
If he loses the vote, the opposition will put forward a candidate to replace him.
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Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has brought the vote, said after the court ruling that the opposition had nominated him to take over should Khan be ousted.
Khan, who asserts that he is facing a United States-backed regime change conspiracy and accuses the opposition of buying support in the assembly, says he would not recognize an opposition government if it succeeded in an attempt to oust him.
“I will not accept an imported government,” added the premier, calling for peaceful protests on Sunday.
The parliament will convene on Saturday to vote on Khan as prime minister.
