Defiance of court verdicts anti-democratic: Nawaz

Islamabad: Ahead of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's court appearance to face contempt charges, one of his predecessors has said that defiance of court verdicts tantamounts to undermining the basis of democracy, Geo News reported.

In a statement, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday termed the honouring of court decisions as an essential factor for strengthening the democratic system and constitutional organs.

The attitude of elected rulers, said Nawaz, must be distinct in comparison to dictatorial regimes.

The former prime minister described the present supremacy of the constitution, independent judiciary, effective media and the right of the people to elect or reject rulers as fruits of sacrifices rendered over a long period of time and that these fruits cannot be put at stake for anyone's personal gain.

Gilani will appear before the Supreme Court Monday to be formally charged with failing to reopen the graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

If convicted, the prime minister faces six months in prison and risks losing his parliamentary seat. He may also be slapped with a five-year ban from holding any public office.

Gilani has said he will resign if the Supreme Court convicts him.