PAKISTAN’S beleaguered premier Monday agreed to appear in court to face a contempt notice served on him for failing to re-open corruption cases, including proceedings against the president.

    The Supreme Court found Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt and summoned him later this week, escalating pressure on a weakened government at a time of crippling tensions with the army which some analysts believe could cost the prime minister his job and force early elections.

    The court wants the government to write to Swiss authorities to demand they re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, including multimillion-dollar money-laundering allegations, after an amnesty expired in late 2009.

    Judge Nasir-ul-Mulk on Monday told the Supreme Court, which met to debate how to proceed on graft charges against Zardari, that Gilani had been ordered to appear before it tomorrow.

    Gilani agreed to the summons in the National Assembly late Monday, after his ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its coalition partners passed a resolution expressing full support for democracy and democratic institutions.

    “The court has summoned me and I will appear before it as a mark of respect on Jan. 19,” he said in a TV address.

    In the past, the PPP has accused the judiciary of overstepping its reach and colluding with the army to bring down the administration before its five-year mandate ends in 2013. <2001>(SD-Agencies)