Pakistan PM Gilani in court
That Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would walk out of the country's increasingly aggressive Supreme Court without wearing handcuffs had been predicted by all seasoned observers.
So when the prime minister arrived for an unusual hearing at the court where he was accused of contempt, people across the country glued themselves to their TV sets, waiting restlessly for high drama to unfold.
Pakistan's ubiquitous television news channels had put their best anchors on air with live video links to experts and their crews at the Supreme Court premises to provide analyses and blow-by-blow account of the proceedings.
Hundreds of camera crews and security detachments braved the chilly, drizzly winter morning around the sprawling building, covering all the vantage positions so as not to miss any single movement of interest.
Standing room only
Inside the courtroom, an impressive line of important cabinet ministers and political allies of the prime minister was arrayed opposite a stage on which seven judges sat behind a semi-circular table.
In the press gallery, overlooking the court, it was standing room only.
For an unfamiliar eye, the scene was decked with all the trappings of a fight to the bitter end.
But the prime minister ended up making a dignified deposition before the court, denying any wilful contempt. The judges heard him out with solemn respect in recognition of his official status.
The anti-climax came when the prime minister's lawyer, Aitezaz Ahsan, was able persuade the judges to give him nearly two weeks to prepare his defence which many say would raise more legal questions, and more time needed to answer them.
Survival
For now, there are signs that at the very least, Mr Gilani will see the government through to 2 March, when senate elections are due.
His Pakistan People's Party (PPP) party is poised to win an absolute majority in the senate. This will extend the party's influence over legislation for at least six years even if it loses in general elections, likely to be held later in the year.
It is generally believed that once senate elections are over, the need for some political factions and state institutions to destabilise the government would end.
But that does not mean that Pakistanis' appetite for political drama will end too.
It is very closely linked to the country's 65-year long history.
During these years, the Pakistani public and Pakistan watchers abroad have seen long spells of military regimes, punctuated by short-lived democratic governments that have been booted out and humiliated without exception.
Mr Gilani's government has defied predictions of a collapse so far, and has become the longest surviving elected government in the country's history.
If it survives until next elections, and a successful transition to the next government takes place, maybe then Pakistanis will start getting used to the new rules of the game that seem to be in the works.
Gilani bows before SC, get a breather
Embattled Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani earned a breather today by presenting himself before the Supreme Court in response to a contempt notice and defended his stand in not reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, but the simmering crisis gripping Pakistan persisted. Bowing to the judiciary, Gilani appeared before a seven- judge bench in compliance of its directive after being slapped with a contempt notice, and walked away with a breather when the apex court adjourned the hearing till February one and exempted him from personal appearance on future dates.
However, Gilani's problems may not be over since the crisis involving his unpopular government's confrontations with the powerful army on the one hand and with the judiciary on the other, remains unresolved. Backed by top lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, a barrister, the 59-year-old Prime Minister, the second premier in office to appear before a court in contempt proceedings, said he could not even think of committing contempt of court as he had complete respect for the judiciary. "I have come today to show my respect to this court," Gilani told the Supreme Court.
"It will not give a good message to proceed against a president who is elected by a two-thirds majority." "There is complete immunity for head of states everywhere," Gilani told the bench, headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, that is presiding over the case. "I have discussed this with my friends and experts, and they all agree that he has got complete immunity," Gilani added. The bench appreciated Gilani's decision to appear before the apex court, with Justice Asif Khosa, a member of the bench, saying his appearance showed the supremacy of law.
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