Pakistan’s top court blocks PM’s move to stay in power

By KATHY GANNON and MUNIR AHMED
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s Supreme Court has blocked Prime Minister Imran Khan’s bid to stay in power, ruling that his move to dissolve Parliament and call early elections was illegal. That set the stage for a no-confidence vote by lawmakers, who say they have enough support to oust him. The decision followed four days of hearings by the top court on the political crisis. Khan had tried to sidestep the no-confidence vote by accusing his political opponents of colluding with the United States to unseat him. Lawmakers will probably convene Saturday, and the opposition says it has the 172 votes in the 342-seat house needed to oust Khan after several members of his own party and a key coalition partner defected.