Pakistani court cites prime minister for contempt of court

Jan 16, 2012, 8:55 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday issued a contempt of court notice to the country's prime minister over his reluctance to cooperate in an investigation into corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The court summoned Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear on January 19. The proceedings could end with the dismissal of the premier if he refuses to apologize or assure the court that its orders will be respected.

'In these circumstances, we are left with no option,' the court ruling stated. 'The prime minister should appear personally in court on January 19.'

The summons comes as tension between the country's civilian government and its powerful military has escalated over an unsigned memo to United States officials allegedly sent by former Pakistani ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqqani.

In the memo, US officials were asked to help prevent a possible military coup following a US raid in Pakistan in early May that killed former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

The court has repeatedly ordered Gilani's government to ask Swiss authorities to reopen a money laundering case against Zardari. But the government says the president enjoys immunity from prosecution.

The cases, which date back to the mid-1990s, were closed on the request of Pakistan under a controversial reconciliation order.

The order involved a deal between the Pakistan Peoples Party and former military strongman Pervez Musharraf, under which many people, including Zardari, were granted immunity from corruption and other criminal charges.

The court last week said it was considering several options as a result of the government's failure to respect its orders, including Gilani's dismissal and early elections.

Gilani said he would be present in court on January 19, adding that he respected the authority of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the country's parliament, where the ruling party and its allies have a comfortable majority, passed a resolution expressing support for democracy.

The government has in the past been criticized by its opponents for using the word 'democracy' to shield itself from its deficiencies.