Pakistan's top court declared on Tuesday that the country's prime minister was `disqualified' from office due to an earlier contempt conviction, delivering what appeared to be a fatal blow against the premier's political career and ushering in political turmoil

In its ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the country's election commission to formally dismiss Yousuf Reza Gilani and said he was no longer the prime minister.

There was no immediate response from Gilani or his party, which heads a ruling coalition.

Gilani was convicted in April for refusing to open a corruption probe against his boss, President Asif Ali Zardari. He has been refusing to step down. The Supreme Court ruling came in response to petitions filed against Gilani for not standing down after that conviction.

Party supporters have said that they believe they have the support in parliament to elect a new prime minister in the event of Gilani's disqualification.