Pakistan President Gilani Offers to Resign after Court Issued Contempt Notice

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has reportedly offered to resign after the country's Supreme Court on Monday served him contempt of court notice for not pursuing corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani reportedly expressed his willingness to step down as the PM during a meeting of Pakistan People's Party leaders and its allies, ARY news channel quoted a source as saying.

It is reported that PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q are likely to take up the prime ministerial post in case Gilani quits or the court orders his arrest.

The Supreme Court has been asking the government to reopen cases of alleged money laundering against Zardari but the government headed by Gilani had failed to follow the court's order.