In major setback Imran Khan to face no-trust vote on Saturday

Ahead of the verdict, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial summoned a senior Election Commission official.

The court has said that the deputy speaker's decision to dissolve the national assembly was illegal as he violated the constitution by refusing to allow a no-confidence vote against Khan the last weekend.

The move allowed Khan to get the presidency to dissolve parliament and order an election, which must be held within 90 days.

Had the vote taken place, Khan would have been removed from office.

"We will re-assemble for announcement of judgement at 7:30pm (8 PM IST) today," said chief justice Umar Ata Bandial.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) meanwhile has said that general elections are not possible before October this year as it needs seven months to ensure "free, fair, and transparent polls" in the country, media reports said.

Ahead of the verdict, security has been heightened at the apex court premises with television footage showing riot police deployed outside the court, Dawn reported.

Earlier in the evening, India declined to comment on the political turmoil in Pakistan saying it is an "internal matter" of that country but noted that it is keeping an eye on the developments in Islamabad.

"It is their internal matter. I do not have any comment to make on this. We are keeping an eye on it but we do not comment on internal matters (of any country)," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

At a media briefing, he was asked to comment on the political developments in Islamabad.