Islamabad: Pakistan slipped into further uncertainty on Monday as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani offered to resign after the Supreme Court issued him a contempt notice for not implementing a directive to act against President Asif Ali Zardari on corruption.
Gilani was directed to appear personally before the bench on Jan 19.
Zardari, accused of graft, had been granted amnesty by the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which was issued in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the return of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Zardari. The NRO was struck down as void by the Supreme Court in 2009.
Gilani offered to resign to save democratic system and parliament, reported ARY News.
The prime minister made the offer after a meeting with Zardari. Both leaders discussed the current political situation in the country, Geo News quoted sources as saying.
Partners of Pakistan’s ruling coalition also met and decided that Gilani would appear before the Supreme Court on Jan 19.
A seven-member Supreme Court bench had Monday resumed hearing on the implementation of the NRO, under which the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had withdrawn cases against Zardari. (IANS)