Gilani has committed contempt, rules Pakistan court

Islamabad - The Supreme Court Thursday ruled that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has committed contempt by not initiating action against President Asif Ali Zardar for corruption, a media report said.

Geo News reported that a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court, hearing Gilani's contempt case, held the prime minister in contempt of the court and summoned him Feb 13.

Gilani appeared before the Supreme Court Jan 19 in the contempt case for not acting against President Zardari for corruption and defending his move on the ground that the constitution provided immunity to the president.

The court had issued Gilani a contempt notice Jan 16.

The apex court had held as illegal the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and struck it down in 2009, which granted immunity to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases, and warned the government of action if its ruling was not implemented by Jan 10, 2012.

The court had also sought reopening of cases closed under the NRO, and ordered the government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities specifically to reopen cases against the president.

Zardari, accused of graft, had been granted amnesty under the NRO which was issued in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the return of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Zardari to Pakistan.