Imran Khan on Sunday overturned a no-confidence vote he was about to lose. He then ordered the dissolution of the National Assembly so that new elections could be held.

The measures seemed to trigger a constitutional crisis. Pakistan’s Supreme Court is due to rule on the legality, but the case has been adjourned until Monday, nor has it been said when it will be decided. In Pakistan, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has just begun.

The dramatic development is the latest in an increasingly bitter battle between Khan and parliament after defectors from his own party and a smaller coalition partner joined the opposition in a bid to oust him from power .

It was unclear on Sunday where the mighty military, which has directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of the country’s 75-year history, stood in battle.

Blame the United States

The former cricket star turned conservative Islamic leader sought to justify the measures by accusing the United States of trying to overthrow his government.

Khan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry accused the opposition of colluding with a foreign power when he submitted the proposal to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament to overturn the vote.

The opposition, which accuses Khan of mismanaging the economy, came to parliament ready to oust him from power, saying they have a sufficient majority of 172 votes in a 342-seat assembly to do so.

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