Zeenews Bureau
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is believed to have made up his mind to step down if the Supreme Court comes up with an "unfavourable decision" in the contempt case against him.
Gilani is under immense pressure to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, and his failure to do so till now has led to contempt proceedings against him in the country’s top court.
The PM reportedly made the decision after consulting the leadership of the Pakistan People`s Party and its allies in the ruling coalition.
The PPP leadership decided that Gilani would tender his resignation before the Supreme Court in person if he faced any "situation" in the contempt case.
The PM will tell the court about the government`s constitutional stance on the issue of presidential immunity.
The Supreme Court resumes hearing on the case today. On Monday, the contempt proceedings against PM Gilani were adjourned as his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan was unwell.
A seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk is hearing the contempt of court case against Gilani for failing to act on the apex court`s earlier orders to reopen graft cases against President Zardari in Switzerland.
The apex court has been pushing the PPP-led government to revive the cases against Zardari since December 2009, when it annulled the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
The government has refused to act, saying the Constitution gives the President immunity in Pakistan and abroad. Gilani has said he would prefer to be jailed in a contempt case launched against him by the apex court for not reopening the graft cases.
