Will step down if convicted with contempt charges: Gilani

The Express Tribune

Just days prior to facing the Supreme Court in contempt charges, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told TV channel Al Jazeera on Saturday that he will “step down” if he is convicted, however, he said, “I don’t think that it [the indictment] will happen.”

Gilani is expected to appear before the court on February 13 to face indictment charges against him for the government’s two-year refusal to write to Swiss authorities to revive cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Prior to this statement, legal experts had debated whether a presidential pardon would protect the embattled prime minister from being disqualified.

“If I am convicted with contempt charges against me, then there is no need for me to even be a member of the parliament,” said Gilani.

The premier said that the charges and cases levelled against President Asif Ali Zardari were “politically-motivated” and that many such charges have been framed against him as well. “I spent five years in prison due to the cases filed against me; such cases are just politically motivated.”

Gilani also said that his government followed the constitution, and according to which, the president enjoyed immunity. He said, “The president enjoys immunity not only in Pakistan, but worldwide.”

He further said that president Zardari had come into the government after contesting elections and that “all the four provinces had voted for him.”

“There was no objection against him at that time,” said Gilani.