The Supreme Court on Monday has charged Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with contempt of court in the NRO implementation case.

The head of seven-member bench, Justice Nasirul Mulk read out the two-page long charge sheet which said that the prime minister had violated Article 204 of the Constitution by not writing a letter to the Swiss administration as instructed by the court.

An additional charge of prime minister violating paragraph 178 of the court’s verdict on the NRO implementation case was also mentioned.

The defendant, PM Gilani pleaded not guilty, and sought more time in the case. But, the court ordered the prosecution Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq to continue presenting more documents and proof to the court.
The prime minister was excused from further hearings while the hearing was adjourned till February 27th.

Prime Minister Gilani was served a contempt notice when the government did not follow the court’s orders of writing a letter to the Swiss administration to reopen cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The Supreme Court insists it will drop the case, if Gilani is to write to the Swiss authorities, asking them to re-open the cases.

If convicted, the Prime Minister faces six months in jail and disqualification from office in a case that has fueled political instability and may also result in early elections.