Pak PM Gilani to face SC over Zardari’s black money

Pakistan's political imbroglio was further exacerbated on Thursday after the Supreme Court ruled that it would begin contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on 13 February.

''I will respect the court's decision," the prime minister told reporters in Lahore today when asked how he felt about the prospect of being possibly convicted and jailed by the same judges whom he had freed from detention and restored to their posts after they were deposed by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

The Supreme Court order relates to Gilani's alleged protection of his political boss, President Asif Ali Zardari (husband of slain leader Benazir Bhutto). Pakistan's apex court wants Gilani's administration to comply with a two-year-old order to reopen graft investigations on Zardari.

Supreme Court judge Nasir-ul-Mulk told the court that there were grounds to proceed against Gilani over the government's refusal to follow an earlier court order to ask Swiss authorities to re-open graft cases against Zardari.

The extreme verdict surprised many observers, and threatens to plunge Gilani's weak administration deeper into crisis. It could force elections within months, observers feel.

Pakistan's judiciary is seen to be at odds with the government; some feel it tends to favour army rule. The Supreme Court's decision to go ahead with the proceedings seems to indicate that the nation's top judiciary is prepared for a fight with Gilani and the government, led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).