Prime Minister Gilani convicted of contempt, could lose office
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Supreme Court Thursday convicted Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani on contempt charges for refusing to revive corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
He was given a symbolic sentence of 30 seconds, till the 'rising of the court', before he walked out of the court.
According to Pakistani media, the ruling could pave the way for Gilani's ouster and heighten political tension in the country.
The apex court had summoned the prime minister to appear before a seven-judge bench, headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, hearing the contempt of court case against him for consistently refusing to act on its orders to reopen graft cases against Zardari.
The apex court has been pressuring the government since December 2009 to revive the cases of alleged money laundering against Zardari in Switzerland.
Gilani has maintained that the president enjoys immunity within Pakistan and abroad and refused to act.
Gilani's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, has said the prime minister would appeal the verdict.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the ruling did not explicitly call for Gilani's disqualification as prime minister.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leadership and cabinet ministers are to meet soon to assess the situation and decide on their next move.
Zardari had been convicted in absentia in 2003 in the case. It was on hold while he and his late wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, appealed.
In 2008, the case was dropped at the request of the Pakistani government. However, since 2009, the Supreme Court has repeatedly demanded that the government reopen the case, which Gilani has refused.
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