Pakistan awaits Imran’s address to nation

Islamabad, April 8 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the nation on Friday, a day after his party PTI suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court nullified all his government’s actions taken from April 3 to Thursday and also told him to face a no trust vote on Saturday. Khan has also summoned cabinet and parliamentary party meetings, News International quoted sources as saying. The apex court on Thursday restored the National Assembly after it declared the President’s order to dissolve it and Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling against the no-confidence motion “unconstitutional and of no legal effect”. The top court then ordered National Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon the session on Saturday (April 9) and not later than 10:30 am to allow the vote on the no-confidence motion against the premier. To review the latest situation, the Prime Minister has called a cabinet meeting on Friday while he will also chair a meeting of the PTI’s parliamentary party later in the day. “Tomorrow evening I will address the nation,” he said. “My message to our nation is I have always and will continue to fight for Pakistan till the last ball.” Imran Khan’s coalition lost its majority in the national assembly last week but he avoided being dismissed when the deputy speaker blocked a no-confidence motion against him and the president dissolved parliament and ordered fresh elections. The premier claimed the Opposition had colluded with the ted States for “regime change”. The court decision was greeted with jubilation by opposition supporters, with packed cars racing through the streets sounding horns. ING MR