PAKISTAN’S Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to “fight to the last ball” today as the supreme court quashed his decision to dissolve parliament ahead of a vote of no confidence last week. 

In a decision issued on Thursday, five judges ruled that the move made by parliament’s deputy speaker Qasim Suri last Sunday was “contrary to the constitution and the law.” 

The lower house will sit today, when the no-confidence motion will be tabled, with the court saying the session must start no later than 10.30am. 

Mr Khan is widely expected to be defeated in the vote, with opposition forces requiring the support of 172 lawmakers in the 342-member national assembly.  

His ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party has lost its parliamentary majority after a number of parties left the coalition. 

Pakistan’s minister for human rights Shireen Mazari hit out at the court decision. 

“A judicial coup happened last night, down to ordering how — and even at what time —  a  national assembly session must be held, ending parliamentary supremacy!” she said.

If Mr Khan is ousted in today’s session, the opposition will nominate a replacement who could remain in power until August 2023, when elections will be held.

A snap poll could be called, though the country’s electoral authorities suggested that the earliest they could be ready to administer a national vote would be October. 

Mr Khan, who retains high approval ratings in Pakistan, has warned of attempts to undermine democracy, fuelled by outside forces.  

“The people are always the strongest defenders of a country’s sovereignty and democracy. 

“It is the people who must come out and defend against this latest and biggest assault on Pakistan’s sovereignty and democracy by a foreign power through local collaborators,” he said in the immediate aftermath of the court decision. 

Last week intelligence services said they had uncovered a plot to assassinate Mr Khan, who has clashed with the US over his support for the Taliban and refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A commission of inquiry was established yesterday to investigate allegations of a “global conspiracy” against his administration. 

Mr Khan was due to address the nation soon after the Morning Star went to print, with officials saying he would present new revelations, without giving further details.