The Supreme Court convicted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for contempt on Thursday for refusing to reopen an old corruption case against the country’s President, Asif Ali Zardari.
Gilani was convicted for violating Article 63(1) (g) of the Constitution and sentenced until the rising of the court.
The sentencing lasted for barely 30 seconds, a reprieve for the 56-year-old Prime Minister who could have been jailed for six months.
Gilani smiled when the verdict was read out in a packed court house.
Talking to Geo News, Gilani termed the verdict as inappropriate.
His lawyer said he would appeal the verdict, further delaying any action that could see Gilani lose his job.
The ruling against PM Gilani appeared to be a compromise, but could still mean problems for him because he has been convicted in a court. That means he could face dismissal from office in the weeks, or more likely, months to come.
Elections are scheduled for later this year or early next, meaning it is quite possible the government could see out its term with Gilani still in charge.
Gilani appeared in person in the SC for the third time to hear the verdict in the contempt of court case.
Gilani guilty of contempt, ‘sentenced’ for 30 secs
The PM smiled and waved to his supporters as he stepped out of the court premises, reported Geo News.
“For reasons to be recorded later, the Prime Minister is found guilty of contempt for willfully flouting the direction of the Supreme Court,” said Justice Nasirul Mulk, who headed the seven-judge bench of the court.
The bench had on Tuesday reserved its judgment in the contempt case against Gilani for failing to act on the court’s directives to reopen corruption cases against Zardari. He has argued that the President enjoys immunity under the Pakistani Constitution.
Accused of graft, Zardari had been granted amnesty under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate his return home and, primarily that of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The NRO that granted immunity to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases was struck down as void in 2009.
The apex court warned the government of action if its ruling on the NRO was not implemented by January 10, 2012. It also ordered the government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen cases against Zardari.
On January 16, the court issued Gilani a contempt notice for not acting against Zardari.
Even after Gilani was formally charged with contempt of court on February 13, the PM insisted that he would rather be jailed than approach the Swiss authorities to reopen the cases against the President.
The Premier has said throughout the proceedings in the apex court that he had done nothing against the government’s rules of business.
Gilani guilty of contempt, ‘sentenced’ for 30 secs
Gilani is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Pakistan, where civilian governments have repeatedly been toppled by the country’s powerful military, often with the support of the Supreme Court, which critics allege is heavily politicised. Corruption charges have routinely been used to target those in power, or seeking to return.