Pak SC convicts Gilani in contempt case, no prison

Islamabad: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday convicted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in connection with a contempt case. Though the court has not announced any jail term for Gilani, the decision has come as a big blow to the Pakistan government.

Gilani has been sentenced till the rising of the court. The case was registered against Gilani after his refusal to write to the Swiss government to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Reacting to the judgement, Gilani said that the verdict is not appropriate.

The Pakistan Prime Minister had pleaded that the President enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office.

It was expected that if Gilani was convicted, he could be disqualified from office and could even face a six-month prison term.

The PPP had reportedly named petroleum minister Senator Asim Hussain as a 'stand by' prime minister in the event Gilani lost his job.

A seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk had on Tuesday reserved its judgement in the case. The Pakistan premier said that he was satisfied with his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan's input in the proceedings of the case.

The premier had said throughout the proceedings in the apex court that he had done nothing against the government's rules of business.

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