Pak SC indicts Gilani; may face jail term

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was today indicted by the Pakistan Supreme Court for contempt of court for refusing to revive corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

If convicted, Pakistan's longest-serving prime minister after four years in power could be stripped of his office and jailed, triggering renewed political turmoil.

Gilani, 59, the first Pakistani prime minister to be arraigned for contempt by the apex court, pleaded not guilty in the packed court room. The court adjourned the hearing till 27 February.

The apex court has asked him to explain why he has not sent a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen a graft inquiry against President Zardari. Both belong to the Pakistan's People's Party (PPP).

In an interview with al-Jazeera television broadcast on Sunday, Gilani said he would resign if convicted though he "did not think that would happen".

At the commencement of the hearing Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, who headed the seven-judge bench, read out the charge sheet and asked him whether he had gone through the charges against him and understood them.