Prime Minister Gilani indicted

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan framed charges against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt case on Monday.

Gilani became first Pakistani premier as Justice Nasirul Mulk heading the larger bench, read charge-sheet against him singed by seven judges of the apex court bench.

According to charge-sheet Mr Gilani has been indicted for not complying with paragraph number 178 of  Supreme Court’s verdict in NRO case.

 ”have read charge-sheet. Do you accept the charges,” Justice Nasirul Mulk asked the premier. “Yes i have read and understood it and i deny the charges,” Mr Gilani replied.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq would act as prosecutor on the court orders. The court gave  him time  until Feb. 16 and the defence until Feb. 27 to file documents, which will then be recorded on Feb. 28. After that, a date will be set for trial.

Gilani’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan sought time till 24 Feb to respond the charges as he was leaving for London.

An eight-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday dismissed Gilani’s intra-court appeal, seeking to set aside the court orders to charge him with contempt for not writing letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

If the premier was convicted, Gilani might face imprisonment and would likely lose his job.

Earlier,  Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani  drove to the Supreme Court of Pakistan  amid tight security and pleasant weather.

ANP chief Asfand Yar Wali Khan and PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujhaat Hussain were sitting beside the premier in the court room number 4.

All roads leading to the Supreme Court of Pakistan have been closed as part of security arrangements.