A member of Pakistan's government denounced on Friday a Supreme Court decision to quash an attempt by Prime Minister Imran Khan to block a no-confidence vote against him, saying the court's ruling was akin to a "judicial coup", reports Reuters.
The court ruling late on Thursday that Khan must face the no-confidence vote, which he is widely expected to lose, meaning the former cricket star will be ousted as prime minister.
"A judicial coup happened last night ... ending parliamentary supremacy!" Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said on Twitter.
The Supreme Court ruled that Khan had acted unconstitutionally in blocking the no-confidence vote on Sunday, after which he dissolved parliament and called an election.
The court ordered that parliament be reconvened by Saturday and the no-confidence vote should go ahead.
Afterwards, Khan signalled his defiance with a cricketing term: "My message to our nation is I have always and will continue to fight for (Pakistan) till the last ball."
Mazari also suggested that Khan and his allies would fight on.
"The long shadows hanging over this judicial decision think the game has been won but frankly it has just started," she said.
Khan, who opposed the US-led intervention in Afghanistan and has developed relations with Russia since he became prime minister in 2018, has accused the United States of supporting a plot to oust him. Washington dismissed the accusation.
Ally of Pak’s embattled Imran denounces ‘judicial coup’
FE Team | Published: April 08, 2022 22:13:33
Ally of Pak’s embattled Imran denounces ‘judicial coup’
Share if you like