The Pakistani cabinet on Tuesday expressed “full confidence” in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as he prepares to go on trial for contempt of court, which could cost him his job.
“The cabinet unanimously applauded the conduct of the prime minister in the Supreme Court and reposed full confidence in his leadership,” his office said in a statement.
Gilani thanked the cabinet and said he was premier “due to the support of members of parliament, his cabinet colleagues and of the coalition partners”.
The prime minister was on Monday charged with contempt by the Supreme Court for refusing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
He pleaded not guilty and the court adjourned until Feburary 22, the first step paving the way to a trial that could see him jailed for six months and disqualified from office.
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to ask the Swiss to re-open the cases, which were shelved in 2008, when Zardari became head of state.
The prime minister has refused, saying Zardari is immune from prosecution as president and that the cases are politically motivated.
Federal Cabinet backs indicted Gilani
