ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its coalition partners have pledged support to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and have vowed to stand behind him, said a statement by presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar after a special meeting held here on Thursday.

The meeting was held here at the Presidency in Islamabad following the Supreme Court’s verdict earlier in the day in which the premier was slapped with contempt of court and sentenced to a symbolic few minutes of detention.

According to the statement, the meeting expressed dismay that an elected prime minister had been sentenced for upholding the Constitution and supremacy of the Parliament.

“It also noted with disappointment that, while no dictator had been punished for suspension and abrogation of the Constitution, a democratically and unanimously elected prime minister had been sentenced for upholding the Constitution.”

The meeting, which was jointly chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and the premier, expressed concern over “attempts to dismiss an elected prime minister”.

Furthermore, the PPP leaders said that the prime minister could only be removed in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Constitution.

Gilani has been the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Pakistan.

The Supreme Court convicted the prime minister of contempt but gave him only a symbolic few minutes of detention inside the court.

The ruling said he was guilty of contempt but would serve a sentence only “until the rising of the court,” or by the time the judges left the chamber.

During today's meeting , the prime minister’s defence team was called upon to give its opinion on whether, and when, to file an appeal against the SC verdict.

Earlier today, the PM’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan had said that the PM was not disqualified after the verdict and that an appeal challenging the decision would be filed after a detailed verdict was received. Federal minister Firdous Ashiq Awan had also said that further course of action from the ruling PPP would be decided once the detailed verdict is issued.

Thursday’s meeting also congratulated the prime minister for “standing up with dignity, grace and courage to defend the Constitution.”

The PPP leaders appreciated and thanked the allied parties in the coalition government for showing solidarity with the prime minister, said the statement. —Editing by Sajjad Haider/Dawn.com