ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued a formal notice disqualifying Yousuf Raza Gilani as a prime minister and as a member of parliament as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The commission backdated the disqualification to April 26, the date that Gilani was convicted of contempt for refusing to ask Switzerland to reopen corruption cases against the president.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan hereby issues notification of disqualification of Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as (a) member (of the) National Assembly of Pakistan with effect from 26.04.2012,” it said just hours after the Supreme Court's verdict.