ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced until the rising of the court, DawnNews reported.
A seven-judge bench of the court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, announced the verdict in the contempt of court case.
The premier was convicted and sentenced under Article 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance (Ordinance 5 of 2003) the constitution.
9:35 am: “For reasons to be recorded later, the prime minister is found guilty of contempt for wilfully flouting the direction of the Supreme Court,” said Justice Nasirul Mulk.
9:40 am: The sentencing lasted for 30 seconds. The prime minister remained standing for 30 seconds after the announcement of judgment. He could have been sentenced to a maximum sentence of six months in prison, but the court ordered him to be “imprisoned” until the hearing adjourned.
9:50 am: A visibly dejected prime minister, accompanied by his sons, after hearing the verdict shook hands with his team and members of the federal cabinet.
10:11 am: A meeting of the federal cabinet will commence at 11:30. At 2:00pm, a meeting of allied parties will start at the president’s house.
10: 13 am: Federal minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said that a petition would be filed in the court for a review of the verdict. She moreover said that further course of action would be decided once the detailed verdict is received.
10: 16 am: Gohar Khan, assistant to Aitzaz Ahsan, and a member of the prime minister’s legal team also said that a review petition would be filed.
10: 16 am: Gohar Khan, assistant to Aitzaz Ahsan, and a member of the prime minister’s legal team also said that a review petition would be filed.
10: 19 am: Nasirul Mulk said the conviction was “likely to entail serious consequences” for Gilani.
11: 45 am: Nawaz Sharif, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz, says the prime minister should resign in the wake of his conviction.
12:00 pm: A special session of the federal cabinet began. The meeting was discussing the court’s verdict against the prime minister.
14:00 pm: Addressing a press conference, Aitzaz Ahsan said that the prime minister was not disqualified after the verdict and that an appeal challenging the decision would soon be filed.
16: 00 pm: Alliance parties were meeting at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad to discuss the verdict against Prime Minister Gilani.