Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said he accepts the Supreme Court's decision - which once again opened the door to no-confidence in his government - but stressed that he will not recognize an "imported" government if attempts to overthrow him succeed.
Khan - in a televised address to the people on Friday evening - accused the United States of plotting to oust him, and called for peaceful protests across the country on Sunday, a day after the planned vote of no-confidence, which the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to take place.
"My Minister Atif Khan told me that some of our members have been invited to the US embassy in Islamabad, and they have been told that a vote of no-confidence is coming," Khan said. "I will not accept an imported government," Khan said.
Yesterday evening, Thursday, the Pakistani Supreme Court ruled that the decision to prevent the vote of no-confidence taken by the deputy speaker of Parliament - a member of Imran Khan's party - as well as the nullity of what was based on the decision of the head of state to dissolve Parliament, which opened the door for early legislative elections, also ordered the return of Parliament to convene and proceed with the vote.
An official notice said Friday that Parliament will convene on Saturday to hold a vote of no-confidence against the government of Imran Khan.
Khan, a former cricket star who came to power in 2018, said he was disappointed but eventually accepted the Supreme Court's decision.
Opposition plan
If a vote of no-confidence is passed in Khan's government, the opposition can nominate a prime minister from among its ranks.
Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said the opposition had nominated him to take over if Khan was impeached.
The office of the Speaker of Parliament said - in a statement - that a session was called for at 10:30 tomorrow morning, Saturday (5:30 GMT).
The vote request submitted by opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif came in the fourth point on the agenda.
With these political developments, the Pakistani rupee reached an all-time low against the US dollar - yesterday, Thursday - and foreign exchange reserves declined.
The opposition says it wants early elections, but after it inflicts a political defeat on Imran Khan and passes legislation it says is important to ensure that the next election is free and fair.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has said the earliest date it can hold elections is next October.