Pakistan's top court has initiated contempt proceedings against the prime minister for failing to carry out the court's order to open a corruption probe into the president.
The Supreme Court ruling today against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani means he could be prosecuted, leading to his dismissal.
The court ordered Gilani to appear before the court Thursday to explain why he has not complied with the order.
Judges are ordering the government to open a corruption probe into President Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the 1990s.
The government has refused, saying Zardari has immunity.
Pakistan's attorney general is appearing before the Supreme Court to explain why the government has failed to carry out the court's order to open a corruption probe into the president.
The hearing could have profound implications for political stability in the nuclear-armed country.
Last week, the court threatened to dismiss Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani unless he ordered the investigation into a case dating back to the early 1990s.
The government insists President Asif Ali Zardari has immunity from prosecution.
The hearing comes against a backdrop of spiking tensions between the government and the army, which has carried out three coups since Pakistan was created in 1947.
AP