Pakistan PM receives supreme court notice
Pakistan: Pakistan's top court yesterday found Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt for not complying with orders related to
re-opening corruption cases and summoned him to appear in person this
week.
The move escalates the pressure on Pakistan's weakened civilian
government, which faces separate court procedures that could unseat its
leadership and force early elections at a time of soaring tensions with
the powerful army.
“The Supreme Court has issued a contempt of court notice to the prime
minister for not complying with its orders,” Judge Nasir-ul-Mulk told
the court which met to debate how to proceed on graft charges against
the president.
“He has been directed to appear personally on January 19,” the judge
added.
The Supreme Court wants the government to write to Swiss authorities
demanding that they re-open old corruption cases against President Asif
Ali Zardari, which the government has so far refused to do so.
Zardari and the government led by his Pakistan People's Party (PPP)
say he has immunity from prosecution as long as he remains in office.
The president is also under pressure from an investigation into who
was behind efforts to solicit American help to prevent a coup apparently
feared in the aftermath of Osama bin Laden's death and to clip the power
of the army.
Zardari's close aide, Husain Haqqani, was forced to resign as
ambassador to Washington over a secret memo written last May and the
Supreme Court ordered an inquiry on December 30 following a demand from
the country's chief spymaster. AFP |