SC deadline: Gilani says not afraid of judicial proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Unfazed by the March 21 deadline set by the Supreme Court for him to approach Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against the President, Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he was not afraid of facing the outcome of the judicial proceedings against him.

"If you are in the business of selling coal, your hands can get blackened. If I were scared, I wouldn't have joined politics. I am not afraid of anybody," he said last night.

His remarks came in response to a question from reporters on whether he was prepared to go to jail on contempt charges for failing to act on the apex court's orders to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland.

Gilani has refused to act, saying the President enjoys immunity from prosecution in Pakistan and abroad.

He had earlier said that he would rather be jailed for contempt than violate the Constitution by acting on the Supreme Court's orders to revive the cases against Zardari.

The apex court has set March 21 as the deadline for Gilani to approach Swiss authorities to reopen the cases against Zardari.

The court will resume contempt proceedings against Gilani the same day.