Pakistan’s Khan losing grip on power before court order

Bloomberg

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party is on the verge of losing control of Pakistan’s biggest province days after it lost its majority in the federal parliament, raising the stakes before the Supreme Court’s ruling on his disputed call for national elections.
After losing his majority in the lower house National Assembly, the former cricket star’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party is facing a rebellion in Punjab province that might make it harder for him to get his ally elected as the chief minister.
The developments come as the Supreme Court concluded a review on the constitutional validity of the parliamentary ruling that cancelled a no-confidence vote against Khan.
He swiftly dissolved parliament and announced fresh elections.
The Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the five-member panel of justices will hand down the verdict at 730pm local time. It stands established the ruling is “illegal,” Bandial observed in the hearing. “Now what next? We have to decide keeping in view the national interest,” he said.
If the court strikes down the ruling, the National Assembly will be restored and the no-confidence motion carried out.