Gilani's fate hangs in balance as Supreme Court issues contempt notice (Pakistan prime minister)
Pakistan's political turmoil deepened on Monday when the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, paving the way for his possible disqualification from parliament and throwing into doubt his continuance in office.
But late on Monday, the beleaguered Pakistan People's Party government won an important political victory when the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, adopted by a majority vote a strongly worded resolution on the need to safeguard democracy.
The Supreme Court ordered Mr. Gilani to appear before it on Thursday. He has been summoned to answer contempt charges for the government's failure to implement the court's order directing it to write to the Swiss government asking it to reopen money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The seven-judge bench asked why proceedings should not be initiated against Mr. Gilani for deliberately disregarding the court's order. If convicted of the charge, Mr. Gilani could be disqualified as a member of parliament, and cannot continue in office.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2805338.ece
