Sharif also put forward Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a staunch ally, to serve as interim prime minister while his brother contests a byelection. He was removed by the supreme court, he said, on “baseless allegations”, adding that the opposition had targeted him and his family. Raja Zafarul Haq, a senior leader from Sharif’s party, said there was no provision in the constitution for the appointment of an acting prime minister. He said Sharif might have stayed in power until the appointment of a new prime minister if judges had not sacked him effective immediately. Opposition leader Imran Khan asked his supporters to travel to Islamabad on Sunday to celebrate Sharif’s removal.

Source: The Guardian July 29, 2017 17:16 UTC