Yousuf Raza Gilani is set to be charged on Monday in contempt case
Pakistan's supreme court has rejected the prime minister's appeal against a summons in a contempt case and is set to charge him on Monday, a move likely to bring fresh political turmoil to the chronically unstable country.
If convicted, Yousuf Raza Gilani could face jail, but the case, which has raised tension between Pakistan's civilian leaders and the supreme court, could drag on and paralyse decision making.
If Gilani is removed, it does not necessarily mean the government will fall as the ruling coalition has the numbers in parliament to elect a replacement. But a protracted court battle could weaken the government and damage the ruling Pakistan People's party's chances in the next general election, expected by 2013.
"The appeal is dismissed," Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said in court, reading the decision of the eight-member bench.
The legal tussle stems from thousands of old corruption cases thrown out in 2007 by a controversial amnesty law passed under the former president Pervez Musharraf.
The contempt accusation arises from Gilani and his advisers ignoring court orders to ask Swiss authorities to reopen cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, the most prominent beneficiary of the law.
Pakistan's current government is the longest-serving civilian administration in the country's history.
It hopes to be the first to serve out its full term in Pakistan, which has been ruled by the military for more than half of its 64-year history through coups or from behind the scenes.
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