Showdown nears as Pak SC summons PM Gilani

The standoff between Pakistan's executive and top judiciary worsened today after the Supreme Court summoned recently appointed prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear before it later this month to face possible contempt charges.

Gilani's predecessor Raja Pervez Ashraf had been dismissed by the apex court on virtually identical grounds of contempt of court for failing to follow up corruption charges against Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's president and leader of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

The Supreme Court has been demanding for the last two-and-a-half years that the prime minister must ask Swiss authorities to reopen cases against the president. Both the former and current prime ministers have argued that the president has immunity against corruption cases.

The government would become the first in Pakistan's history to complete an elected, full five-year mandate in February 2013, but the showdown could force elections before then.

Analysts said Ashraf's dismissal would be unlikely to topple Zardari's government, which enjoys a majority in Parliament, but would trigger fresh political turmoil that might move up elections.

The court had earlier given Ashraf until 8 August to write to Switzerland and last week struck down a new law passed by the National Assembly, the country's parliament, that sought to exempt members of the government from contempt trials.

Judge Asif Saeed Khosa, ruling for the five-judge bench, said Ashraf "shall appear in person at the next date of hearing'', on 27 August. The justices refused a government request to delay the proceedings until September.