When Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani refused to re-open corruption cases against current President Asif Ali Zardari, the Supreme Court held him in contempt. Gilani ignored the contempt citation and today, he paid for his miscalculation as the court disqualified him from holding office. Reuters: "Since no appeal was filed (against the April 26 conviction) ... therefore Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani stands disqualified as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament)...," said Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in a packed courtroom. "He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan ... the office of the prime minister stands vacant." But Fawad Chaudhry, a senior Gilani aide, said only parliament could dismiss the prime minister. While the decision is a big blow to the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), it is unlikely to lead to the fall of the unpopular government. The PPP and its coalition partners have the numbers in parliament to elect a new prime minister until...(Read Full Post)