January 16th, 2012
05:16 AM ET

Pakistan Supreme Court orders PM to face contempt charge

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to face a contempt of court hearing this week, officials said.

The notice was issued for the government's failure to re-open thousands of corruption cases against politicians and bureaucrats, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

"Ultimately it's the prime minister who is responsible for carrying out the court's order and he has not. I think the court has lost its patience," said Ahmad Bilal Mehboob, the head of the Islamabad-based political think tank the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency.

The court also ordered Gilani to appear in person before the court Thursday.

The court has not found Gilani in contempt or convicted him of a crime, but only issued a notice of contempt - a lesser action.

Gilani will have the chance to defend himself Thursday, Mehboob said.

The court will rule whether he is in contempt after the hearing, likely at a later date, Mehboob said.

If convicted, the court could disqualify Gilani as a member of parliament, which would make him ineligible to be prime minster, Mehboob said. He said that decision could "take a while."

"The prime minister is not jeopardy," said Seyed Abid Ali Shah, a lawmaker representing Gilani's Pakistan Peoples Party.

"We will comply with the order of the Supreme Court. We have always upheld the rule of the law and we shall continue to do so," he said.

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Filed under: Pakistan • World
soundoff (14 Responses)
  1. gung hoe

    Theyre ticked at him because we got bin laden

    January 16, 2012 at 6:40 am | Report abuse |
  2. Jazzy

    @ TORI, My guess is the court is more lenient with PM"s than your average Joe-Al Sab, so to speak. Just think of how our justice system is with officials. I think the justice system there gives it's *own* every opportunity before unleashing it's full force.

    January 16, 2012 at 7:48 am | Report abuse |
  3. Jazzy

    TORI!!!! Ya know I think of a bull saying "TORO" in the ring when I looked at your name this morning. Wonder how Spain is this time of year? 😉
    How ya doing this morning women! 🙂

    January 16, 2012 at 8:22 am | Report abuse |
  4. WHAT PLANET HAS VISITED US THIS TIME

    guess he bit more off than he can chew, sooo OBVIOUS!

    January 16, 2012 at 10:30 am | Report abuse |
  5. bobcat (in a hat)©

    It is just hard for me to accept the fact that there is corruption in the Pakistani government. How can any country that has been such a staunch ally with us in the war on terror possibly be so filled with criminals. I just refuse to believe it.

    I am new to these news blogs and this is my first ever post. Please be patient with me while I get introduced to the concept.

    January 16, 2012 at 11:55 am | Report abuse |
  6. Kandi

    Lol @ bobcat, looks as though you have had a troll infestation in your home while you slept! And personnally, i hold only the highest contempt for the pakistan government!

    January 16, 2012 at 12:33 pm | Report abuse |
  7. bobcat (in a hat)©

    @ Kandi

    I forgot you're not used to my sarcastic side yet. Pakistan is another area we need to quit supporting. I would get on my high horse and go on a rant about them, but I haven't been able to find my ladder and I can't jump that high any more.

    Where's banasy and the rest of the group ?

    January 16, 2012 at 12:56 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Kandi

    Lmao @ bobcat, you are so wrong lol im quite used to it, my mom is the *post it* queen of sarcasm! Roflmmfao!

    January 16, 2012 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
  9. krm1007

    India poses a clear and present danger to the regional security of the world. ...to USA...NATO...Pakistan and Afghanistan people and armed forces. Hindu cult extremism is on the rise and fanning all terrorism worldwide. Indians are the bankers to and financing terrorism and supporting Talibans and Al Qaeda and harboring them in India. These terrorists are being entertained in the Indian parliament building in New Delhi where they are residing and then smuggled over to Pakistan in Indian Army helicopters. Shame on these Indians. Like the NAZI's they need to be stopped forcefully and immediately.

    January 16, 2012 at 3:53 pm | Report abuse |
  10. TORI©

    There's my troll in the above posts!!

    January 16, 2012 at 4:14 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Kandi

    Lmao @ TORY copywrite, at least your troll is female!

    January 16, 2012 at 4:39 pm | Report abuse |
  12. TORI©

    @kandi, she's portraying herself as female but it can very well be an old geezer stalker troll.

    January 16, 2012 at 11:02 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Kandi

    Yea it could be thats very true, like G.P. that keeps trolling me.

    January 16, 2012 at 11:08 pm | Report abuse |
  14. TORI©

    It looks like we all have a troll following us even good old @bobcat. If it's really you bobcat rant away! I appreciate your sarcastic wit.

    January 17, 2012 at 12:49 am | Report abuse |
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