Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday found Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani guilty of contempt of court for refusing to reopen corruption cases against the president, but gave him only a symbolic sentence of a few minutes’ detention in the courtroom.

It was unclear if the token sentence would ease political tension in Pakistan, where the president and prime minister have jousted with the military and judiciary over the past year.

However, opposition leader Nawaz Sharif immediately demanded Gilani’s resignation and some lawyers said the ruling automatically disqualified him from holding the post of prime minister.

“What they’ve done is taken it from the legal arena and chucked it into the political arena,” said Cyril Almeida, a prominent columnist for the Dawn daily newspaper.

“There will be massive pressure from the opposition, the media, from civil society, saying ‘He’s been convicted for flouting the letter of the law and he should go home,’” Almeida said. “There will be a lot of pressure for him to resign.”

Gilani’s lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, said the prime minister would appeal against the ruling, which means uncertainty over his fate could drag on for months.

Gilani is the first serving prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be convicted by a court, but his sentence – detention lasting just a few minutes until the session was adjourned – was symbolic. He could have faced up to six months in jail and the loss of office.

MONEY-LAUNDERING CASES

A throng of supporters surrounded Gilani as he walked into the court in Islamabad, showering him with rose petals. Security was tight, with about 1,000 police officers standing by in riot gear and helicopters circling the Supreme Court building.

The case stems from what many observers say is a political battle between the government and the military, which has held the whip hand in Pakistan’s political arena for most of the country’s 64 years of independence. Many say the army is using the court to keep the government on the back foot.

Read more: Reuters.com

Other links:Aitzaz Ahsan , Ahsan Iqbal , Nisar Ali Khan , Javed Hashmi , Marvi Memon , Khan Abdul Wali Khan , Shah Mehmood Qureshi , Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi , Zulfiqar Mirza , Awami Muslim League (Pakistan) , Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed , Communist Party of Pakistan , Moonis Elahi , Fatima Bhutto , Arif Alvi , Fazal-ur Rehman , Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz , Political parties of Pakistan

Behind the high walls and gates of the only prison for women in Pakistan’s commercial hub, inmates such as Sadaf escape from prison every day — even if it’s only in her mind.

Small and thin, with friendly eyes set in a weathered face, Sadaf has been an inmate since 1998 after being convicted of kidnapping. But she says she’s much calmer and hopeful thanks to an innovative yoga program for the prison’s inhabitants.

“Though my surroundings haven’t changed, my life has and I have yoga to be thankful for,” she said in an interview with Reuters in the prison courtyard.

Sadaf, along with other inmates, has been taking yoga classes from volunteer instructor Aisha Chapra for almost a year and a half as a way to cope with the rough life of prison.

Pakistan’s prisons have a reputation as brutal holding pens, but wardens and jail administrators praise the program for calming the inmates and preparing them for eventual release.
More information on reuters.com

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Pakistan’s Supreme Court has given the government more time to respond to its demand to open corruption probes against the president and other officials.

Government lawyers told judges at the court Monday they would return on Oct. 13 with a report on what they had done to pursue the cases.

The government has been accused of dragging its feet after the Supreme Court in December scrapped an amnesty that had been protecting President Asif Ali Zardari and hundreds of other government officials from prosecution on graft and other cases dating back years.

Zardari has denied any wrongdoing and insists he has immunity from prosecution as president.

More information on foxnews.

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Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal , Sindh Dost Ittehad , Muttahida Qaumi Movement , National Peoples Party , Pakistan Peoples Party , Pakistan Muslim League (N) , Justice and Development Party Pakistan , Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz , Pakistan Muslim League (Q) , Awami National Party , All Pakistan Muslim League , Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and his ruling party have thrown down the gauntlet in the face of calls for him to resign, condemning what they called a witch-hunt and vowing to foil conspiracies again them.

Opposition politicians have been calling for President Asif Ali Zardari to step down since the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down an amnesty that protected him, several government ministers and thousands of others from corruption charges.

The political tension comes as the United States has intensified pressure on its nuclear-armed ally to clear out Afghan Taliban enclaves along the Afghan border while Pakistan is battling its own homegrown militants and their suicide bombers.

More information on reuters.com

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Recently the Politics of Pakistan has taken place in the framework of a federal republic, where the system of government has at times been parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential. In the current semi-presidential system, the President of Pakistan is the head of state, the Prime Minister is head of government, and there is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is largely vested in the Parliament.

Altaf Hussain الطاف حسین The leader and founder of Mohajir Qaumi Movement. Altaf Hussain is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Asfandyar Wali Khan اسفند یار ولی خان The President of the Awami National Party in Pakistan. Asfandyar Wali Khan is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Asif Ali Zardari President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Asif Ali Zardari is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Benazir Bhutto Sindhi: بينظير ڀٽو, Urdu: بینظیر بھٹو Was a Pakistani politician who chaired the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Benazir Bhutto is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari بلاول بھٹو زرداری Co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi غلام مصطفیٰ جتوئی Pakistani politician, and was Prime Minister of Pakistan. Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Imran Khan عمران خان نیازی Pakistani politician and retired cricketer. Imran Khan is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Muhammadmian Soomro محمد میاں سومرو Pakistani politician who has been the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 2003. Muhammadmian Soomro is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Nawaz Sharif میاں محمد نواز شریف Pakistani politician and businessman. Nawaz Sharif is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Pervez Hoodbhoy پرویز ہودبھائی The head of the Physics Department at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Pervez Hoodbhoy is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Pervez Musharraf پرویز مشرف Former Prime Minister of Pakistan as well as former Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. Pervez Musharraf is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Shaukat Aziz Was the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2004 to 2007. Shaukat Aziz is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

Yousaf Raza Gillani مخدوم سیّد یوسف رضا گیلانی The current twenty-sixth Prime Minister of Pakistan. Yousaf Raza Gillani is ready for your opinion, support and vote. Vote online NOW!

For more information click on Politics.

Political parties in Pakistan lists political parties in Pakistan. Pakistan has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.

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Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in Poll – public opinion online Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, متحدہ مجلس عمل United Council of Action ElectionsMeter is intended for the world´s public to express personal affections and free opinion of every person towards politics and politicians.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Poll – public opinion online متحدہ قومی موومنٹ Muttahida Qaumi Movement ElectionsMeter is intended for the world´s public to express personal affections and free opinion of every person towards politics and politicians.

National Peoples Party in Poll – public opinion online نيشنل پیپلز پارٹی National Peoples Party ElectionsMeter is intended for the world´s public to express personal affections and free opinion of every person towards politics and politicians.

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Pakistan Muslim League (Q) in Poll – public opinion online پاکستان مسلم لیگ ق Pakistan Muslim League (Q) ElectionsMeter is intended for the world´s public to express personal affections and free opinion of every person towards politics and politicians.

Pakistan Peoples Party in Poll – public opinion online پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی Pakistan Peoples Party ElectionsMeter is intended for the world´s public to express personal affections and free opinion of every person towards politics and politicians.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Poll – public opinion online پاکستان تحريک انصاف , Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Pakistan Movement for Justice ElectionsMeter is intended for the world´s public to express personal affections and free opinion of every person towards politics and politicians.

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