Pakistan's Imran Khan vows to fight on after Supreme Court ruling against him

Pakistan'sPrime Minister ImranKhanis due to address the nation on Fridayafterthe SupremeCourtruled he acted unconstitutionally in blocking an attempt to ousthim- a decision that could end his premiership in days.

Last Sunday, political allies of the former cricket star dissolved parliament to thwart an opposition no-confidence voteKhanhad been expected to loseaftercoalition partners desertedhimto robhimof a majority.

The SupremeCourtruled late on Thursday thatKhan's manoeuvre was unconstitutional, ordering that parliament be reconvened by Saturday and for the no-confidence motion to go ahead as planned.

Thecourtruling is the latest twist in a crisis that has threatened political and economic stability in the nuclear-armed country of 220 million people, with the rupee currency hitting all-time lows on Thursday and foreign exchange reserves tumbling.

The Dawn newspaper welcomed the SupremeCourtruling, saying thecourthad reasserted itself as the custodian of the constitution.

"It is hoped that the verdict, delivered just as matters seemed to be hurtling towards chaos, will be able to pull the country back from the precipice," the English-language newspaper said.

Political chaos would worry the powerful military, which has stepped in to remove civilian governments and rule on three occasions, citing the need to end political uncertainty.

Khansaid on Twitter late on Thursday he had called a cabinet meeting for Friday,afterwhich he would address the nation.

He signalled his defiance with a cricketing term: "My message to our nation is I have always and will continue tofightfor (Pakistan) till the last ball," he said.

Watch |Imran Khan vows to fight back after snub from Pakistan Supreme Court

Angry Supporters

Khan, who opposed the U.S.-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 ousthim. Washington dismissed the accusation.

Afterthe SupremeCourtruling, angryKhansupporters on the streets chanted anti-American slogans while opposition supporters nearby celebrated.

Police in riot gear kept the two sides apart.

IfKhanwere to lose the no-confidence vote, the opposition could nominate its prime minister to govern until August 2023, by when a new election is due.

Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, saidafterthecourtruling that the opposition had nominatedhimto take over shouldKhanbe ousted.

The opposition has said it wants early elections, but onlyafterdeliveringKhana political defeat and passing legislation it says is required to ensure the next polls are free and fair.

Pakistan'selection commission said on Thursday the earliest a new election could be held was October.

Some political analysts said the military viewedKhanand his conservative agenda favourably when he came to power in 2018 but its support has waned.

The military leadership says it is not involved in politics, including this latest bout of turmoil.