ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s prime minister says he will appear before the Supreme Court again in a corruption case.
The premier, Yousuf Raza Gilani, told his parliament Thursday that he respects the court and will honor its request for a second appearance.
The Supreme Court is charging the prime minister with contempt for his failure to ask Swiss authorities to reopen an old corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the late 1990s.
Gilani argues that Zardari is immune from prosecution as a serving president. He was conciliatory in his first appearance in an attempt to defuse the crisis.
The court said it would begin the contempt trial against Gilani on Feb. 13. The prime minister could face six months in prison and be disqualified from holding office if convicted.
