High Court Disqualifies Pakistani PM From Holding Office

The ruling disqualifies Yusuf Raza Gilani from holding office and serving in parliament.

Pakistan's highest court has declared Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani “disqualified” from holding office.

The announcement comes two months after the Supreme Court convicted Gilani of contempt.

The ruling disqualifies Gilani from holding office and serving in parliament.

Reports said leaders of the governing Pakistan People's Party, which has the parliament majority needed to elect a successor to Gilani, had gone into emergency session.

In April, the high court convicted Gilani for failing to take action to reopen a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani argues that Zardari has full immunity as head of state.

Allegations against Zardari date back to the 1990s, when he was accused of using Swiss bank accounts to launder bribes.

With reporting by AFP and AP