Pakistan court disqualifies PM

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 19 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan says Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is disqualified from holding office because of his contempt conviction.

Gilani was ineligible for membership in Parliament as of April 26, the date of his conviction for failing to pursue corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari, the court said Tuesday.

"He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan," Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said.

Gilani has 30 days to appeal the verdict, Express News reported. Attorney General Irfan Qadir said Gilani's immunity cannot be taken away by anyone but Parliament and questioned the Supreme Court's autonomy.

An emergency session of the governing Pakistan People's Party was called following the announcement, the BBC reported.

Security was deployed to Gilani's home in Multan.