Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says he won't resign ahead of no-confidence move

PakistanPrime Minister ImranKhansaidhewouldn'tresign, rejecting opposition calls to step down ahead of a no confidence moveagainst him in his toughest challenge since coming to power in 2018.

Pakistan's parliament will convene on Friday to start proceedings into theno-confidencemotion, that could take seven days to actually go for voting to decide whetherKhanwill be removed.

Thenoconfidencemovehas risked constitutional, administrative and economic crises amid a pending International Monetary Fund review to issue next trancheof a $6 billion rescue package, which was scheduled this week but has yet to happen.

Opposition parties filed themotion earlier this month, sayingKhanhas lost his parliamentary majority after some 20 of his party lawmakers defected, calling on theprime minister to step down.

"I will notresigncome what may,"Khansaid in a statement from his office issued late Wednesday night.Khansaidhewould not surrender without a fight and questioned why shouldhequit under pressure from "crooks".

Along with thedefection of nearly 20 of his party lawmakers, some of his coalition partners have also suggested they may join theopposition.

Some political analysts and opposition lawmakers sayKhanhas fallen out withPakistan's powerful military, which was seen as instrumental in thesuccess of theformer cricket star's upstart party four years ago.

Khandenies themilitaryhelped him into office. Themilitarysaysit does not interfere in politics.

Theopposition accusesKhanof mismanaging theeconomy and foreign policy.Hedenies this. NoPakistani prime minister has ever completed his full five year term in office.

Theloss of dissident lawmakers has leftKhanshort of theminimum - 172 - needed for a simple majority in theparliament.

Thejoint opposition commands 163 seats in thelower house, but could build a majority if most of thedefectors effectively join its ranks via a no-confidencevote.

Khanhas filed a court petition seeking a lifetime ban on thedefectors, and appealed them to return to theruling party.Hehas also called on thepublic to show support for his premiership by holding a "million-man" rally in Islamabad on Sunday.

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