The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday ordered contempt charges against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case, a corruption amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007.
Gilani has been ordered by the seven-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk to appear before it in person on January 19 for failing to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and over 8,000 others.
Gilani has been ordered to personally appear in court to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for deliberately disregarding the court's orders on the reopening of the corruption cases.
While pointing out that the Gilani government has been issued directions several times by the Supreme Court to implement its orders regarding the NRO cases, the government had deliberately not acted on these orders.
With the issue of the contempt notice to Gilani, another round of confrontation between the government and the judiciary is brewing. The ruling Pakistan People's Party is already in a face off with the powerfull military over the memo scandal.
Earlier, while hearing the case the apex court had directed Attorney General Anwarul Haq 20 minutes to speak to the government and seek advice on the NRO case.
Gilani, cornered by the Supreme Court and the powerful military, could seek a vote of confidence in the National Assembly to save his embattled government.
Gilani is expected to win the vote on a resolution that seeks endorsement and support for "efforts made by the political leadership for strengthening democracy" and calls for reposing "full confidence and trust" in the leadership on Monday evening even as reports claim the powerful military led Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani would rally behind the Supreme Court.
The Pakistani Prime Minister has been defiant and told Parliament that the country does not need another dictators but a strong democracy. He has also rejected the Army's demand that he retract his criticism of the military, saying "I will not answer to any individual as I am answerable to Parliament."
The NRO introduced by former president Musharraf in 2007 cleared corruption cases between 1986-1999 and let off many tainted politicians and bureaucrats. Several murder charges were also dropped under the NRO.
Many say the NRO allowed former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan. She was assassinated in December 2007.
The Supreme Court declared the NRO unconstitutional in 2009.
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