Pakistan PM handed contempt order by Supreme Court

Pakistan’s prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has been served with a contempt order and ordered to appear before the country’s Supreme Court on January 19.

The court issued the order after claiming that Gilani has failed to pursue long-standing corruption cases against Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari and other top officials.

The development is another complication for the government, which is also at odds with the country’s military. Gilani has rejected a demand by the country’s top general to withdraw criticism of the army and the intelligence services.

The ongoing row between the government and the military has raised fears for the stability of the nuclear-armed nation.

The row began over a mysterious memo apparently seeking US help to avert a possible military coup. The army has complained to the president about the prime minister’s comments, but he is refusing to back down.

“I am answerable only to parliament. For any complaints, I will not answer to a person. I am answerable to parliament. I will tell parliament whenever it wishes to know my position,” Gilani told reporters.

The disputes have brought relations between the government and the military to an all-time low.

Although another coup is not thought likely – there have been three in 60 years of independence – the army remains strong.

The crisis is troubling Washington, which needs Pakistan’s co-operation in trying to stabilise neighbouring Afghanistan.

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