Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani charged with contempt of court

Europe Sun Monday 13th February, 2012

ISLAMABAD - For the first time in Pakistan's history, the country's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was Monday charged with contempt of court by the Supreme Court for refusing to reopen corruption cases against the president.

Gilani, who was dressed in a dark suit, grey tie and white shirt, waved to his supporters before entering the court.

Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, the head of the seven-member bench of the apex court, read out the charge sheet in Gilani's presence

The judge said the prime minister had "wilfully flouted, disregarded and disobeyed" orders from the apex court to re-open the alleged money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani pleaded not guilty to the charges that could see him imprisoned for six months and lose his office.

Gilani's counsel Aitzaz Ahsan sought time till February 24 from the court to reply to the charges. The case was adjourned till February 22.

The prime minister has been locked in a standoff with the apex court over the issue for over two years.

Gilani has always maintained that the constitution provides immunity to the president from prosecution and that the cases are politically motivated.

In 2009, the court had overturned a political amnesty that had prevented a probe into President Zardari and other politicians. It had ordered the government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen cases against the president.

The president and his late wife former prime minister Benazir Bhutto were suspected to have used Swiss accounts to launder about $12 million in alleged bribes paid by companies seeking customs inspection contracts in the 1990s.