Pakistan court to hear Gilani contempt appeal

Islamabad, May 1 (IANS) A nine-member bench of the Pakistani Supreme Court will hear Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's appeal in the case in which he has been convicted for contempt of court.

"An additional and two ad-hoc judges" will be included in the bench, Geo TV quoted Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as saying Tuesday.

Chaudhry added that under article 181 and 182 of the constitution additional and ad-hoc judges could be included.

Gilani was last Thursday convicted for contempt of court by the Supreme Court that gave him a 30-second symbolic sentence for refusing to write to Swiss authorities to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The sentencing lasted for barely 30 seconds, a reprieve for the 56-year-old prime minister who could have been jailed for six months.

Gilani was indicted for contempt of court Feb 13.

He said the verdict was inappropriate. Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan had said a petition would be filed in the apex court for a review of the verdict.