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| Pakistani PM serves token sentence of less than a minute for contempt | Pakistani PM serves token sentence of less than a minute for contempt |
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| Pakistan's prime minister has served a token jail sentence of just a few seconds after the country's supreme court convicted him for the "willful flouting" of its own orders. | |
| The latest twist in a tortuous legal and political drama is set to create further problems for Pakistan's already unpopular government as it gears up for re-election, but it is unlikely to immediately unseat the prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani. | |
| The long-running contempt of court case against Gilani stems from the prime minister's refusal to accept a supreme court order demanding he write a formal request to Swiss prosecutors to reopen a dormant money laundering investigation into the country's president, Asif Ali Zardari. | The long-running contempt of court case against Gilani stems from the prime minister's refusal to accept a supreme court order demanding he write a formal request to Swiss prosecutors to reopen a dormant money laundering investigation into the country's president, Asif Ali Zardari. |
| Although the court hearings have dragged on for months, the conclusion to the case lasted just a few minutes. | Although the court hearings have dragged on for months, the conclusion to the case lasted just a few minutes. |
| Reading out his brief verdict in a courtroom packed with Gilani supporters, including several cabinet ministers, the judge Nasir-ul-Mulk said the prime minister's behaviour was "substantially detrimental to the administration of justice" and "intends to bring this court and the judiciary of this country into ridicule". | Reading out his brief verdict in a courtroom packed with Gilani supporters, including several cabinet ministers, the judge Nasir-ul-Mulk said the prime minister's behaviour was "substantially detrimental to the administration of justice" and "intends to bring this court and the judiciary of this country into ridicule". |
| Gilani was then sentenced to "imprisonment until the rising of the court today". | Gilani was then sentenced to "imprisonment until the rising of the court today". |
| Because the seven gowned judges ignored calls by Gilani's team to make a statement and immediately stalked out of the room, the prime minister's total jail term was barely half a minute. | |
| Standing at a rostrum in front of the seven judges, the prime minister smiled after hearing the judgment. | |
| He had reportedly been prepared to go directly to prison from court, but the judgment lays the ground for potentially months more legal and political wrangling over whether he should be forced from office. | He had reportedly been prepared to go directly to prison from court, but the judgment lays the ground for potentially months more legal and political wrangling over whether he should be forced from office. |
| Gilani's Pakistan People's party (PPP) hopes to make history as the first Pakistani democratic, civilian-led government to see out a full five years in office. | Gilani's Pakistan People's party (PPP) hopes to make history as the first Pakistani democratic, civilian-led government to see out a full five years in office. |
| Outside the court swarms of lawyers and television journalists vied with each other to interpret what the latest development in the "Swiss letter" affair means for Pakistan. | Outside the court swarms of lawyers and television journalists vied with each other to interpret what the latest development in the "Swiss letter" affair means for Pakistan. |
| "Morally, he should resign, immediately," said, Tariq Mahmood, a high-profile retired judge. | "Morally, he should resign, immediately," said, Tariq Mahmood, a high-profile retired judge. |
| However, he conceded that was perhaps the least likely outcome. | However, he conceded that was perhaps the least likely outcome. |
| He said the speaker of parliament would have to decide whether Gilani should lose his seat, and therefore prime ministership, for flouting an article of the country's constitution that says parliamentarians can be disqualified if they defame or ridicule the judiciary. | |
| Tellingly, the judges specifically referred to the article in their judgement, suggesting to many observers that they do think he should be forced from office. | Tellingly, the judges specifically referred to the article in their judgement, suggesting to many observers that they do think he should be forced from office. |
| But given the speaker is herself a member of the PPP she is unlikely to disqualify the prime minister. Mahmood said the matter should ultimately be referred to the country's election commission. | But given the speaker is herself a member of the PPP she is unlikely to disqualify the prime minister. Mahmood said the matter should ultimately be referred to the country's election commission. |
| The entire process would probably take around four months, with each stage offering Gilani opportunities to appeal. | The entire process would probably take around four months, with each stage offering Gilani opportunities to appeal. |
| Even if the prime minister clings on, Gilani is now tarred with being a convict found guilty of criminal charges – a fact he will be regularly reminded of by Pakistan's opposition parties as the country gears up for an election at some point in the next 12 months. | |
| "The prime minister should immediately resign," said Nawaz Sharif, leader of one of the main opposition parties and a former prime minister himself. | "The prime minister should immediately resign," said Nawaz Sharif, leader of one of the main opposition parties and a former prime minister himself. |
| Speaking on one of country's biggest news channels, he said the verdict was "based on truth and reality". | Speaking on one of country's biggest news channels, he said the verdict was "based on truth and reality". |
| Cyril Almeida, a newspaper columnist, said the affair could put a strain on the PPP's coalition partners. | Cyril Almeida, a newspaper columnist, said the affair could put a strain on the PPP's coalition partners. |
| He said: "Some people may start asking: 'Is the political pressure worth it to sustain a prime minister in office who has been convicted by the supreme court and is enmeshed in controversy?'" | He said: "Some people may start asking: 'Is the political pressure worth it to sustain a prime minister in office who has been convicted by the supreme court and is enmeshed in controversy?'" |
| The source of the controversy stretches back to the 1990s when Asif Ali Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, was in power. | The source of the controversy stretches back to the 1990s when Asif Ali Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, was in power. |
| The couple allegedly illegally received kickbacks from Swiss companies and then laundered the cash. They were found guilty by a Swiss court in 2003. | The couple allegedly illegally received kickbacks from Swiss companies and then laundered the cash. They were found guilty by a Swiss court in 2003. |
| Zardari appealed and Swiss prosecutors dropped the case in 2008 after Pakistan gave the president immunity from old corruption charges. | Zardari appealed and Swiss prosecutors dropped the case in 2008 after Pakistan gave the president immunity from old corruption charges. |
| The supreme court ruled that immunity unconstitutional in 2009 and ordered the government to write a letter to Swiss authorities requesting they reopen the case against Zardari. | The supreme court ruled that immunity unconstitutional in 2009 and ordered the government to write a letter to Swiss authorities requesting they reopen the case against Zardari. |
| Gilani refused, saying the Pakistani constitution grants the president immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, something the Swiss are likely to accept. | Gilani refused, saying the Pakistani constitution grants the president immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, something the Swiss are likely to accept. |