On eve of no-trust vote, Pakistan premier says he is ‘disappointed’ by top court’s verdict

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan's prime minister on Friday said he is 'disappointed' by the top court’s judgment that declared the blocking of the no-confidence motion against him “contrary to the Constitution.”

In an address to the nation, Imran Khan accused the US of hatching a conspiracy to oust him.

“My Minister Atif Khan told me that some of our members were called in the US embassy in Islamabad and they were told that a no-trust motion is coming,” Khan claimed.

He announced a countrywide protest on Sunday and said he will not accept an "imported" government in the country.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside the deputy speaker's ruling to dismiss a no-trust resolution against Khan and the subsequent dissolution of the lower house of parliament by the president on the premier's advice.

The apex court, in a unanimous judgment, ordered the speaker to summon a session of parliament on April 9 and hold a vote on the no-trust motion.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial termed the dissolution of the National Assembly on Sunday “contrary to the constitution,” and declared the move “null and void.”