The government says he does, but the Supreme Court ruled in 2009 that the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a political amnesty signed by former leader Pervez Musharraf and the late Benazir Bhutto, Zardari鈥檚 husband, is not valid 鈥� casting a legal shadow on Zardari鈥檚 presidency and uncertainty on what would happen to him if the court rules he鈥檚 guilty of past crimes.
Prime Minister Gilani, on the other hand, does not enjoy immunity, and if he is found guilty of contempt of court for not reopening corruption cases against Zardari, faces dismissal, jail time, and a bar from public office.
On Monday, Mr. Gilani, who finds himself at the center of the clash between the institutions, received a welcome boost when parliament passed a pro-democracy resolution calling for the military and Supreme Court to remain within their constitutional limits.
Still, the government鈥檚 position is precarious and many expect snap elections before the government鈥檚 five-year tenure is up in February 2013.
