Kathmandu, Aug. 22 -- The Supreme Court has summoned Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to submit a written response to a petition demanding he seek a vote of confidence and explain why the court should not issue an interim order.

A single bench of Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel on Friday ordered the defendants, including the prime minister, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, the Federal Parliament Secretariat, and the President's Office at Shital Niwas, to appear in court within a week with a reasoned response.

The petition, filed by lawyer Birendra KC on Thursday, follows the withdrawal of support to the Oli government by the Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal, on July 16. Petitioners said a month ha...