Pakistan top court charges Gilani with contempt

Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court has charged the prime minister with contempt for defying its orders to reopen a corruption case against his political ally, President Asif Ali Zardari.

The development on Monday escalates a political crisis that has gripped the nuclear-armed nation

If found guilty, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani could be imprisoned and lose his job.

The court will now hear the case. A verdict could take several weeks or months.

Gilani has refused to order the corruption probe into Zardari, saying the president has immunity from prosecution while in office.