Yousaf Raza Gilani in Pak SC on Monday, to lose power if convicted

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Pakistan’s beleaguered Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said Sunday he will resign if convicted by the Supreme Court, where he is due to appear Monday to face contempt charges over his refusal to reopen corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Addressing the Pakistan People’s Party core committee, Gilani said he was prepared to 'sacrifice his office' if convicted. He said he had spent many years behind bars and he was 'not afraid of jails'.

In an interview to Al Jazeera, Gilani had pointed out that conviction would automatically disqualify him as a member of Parliament.

“Certainly, there is no need to step down. If convicted, then I’m not even supposed to be a member of Parliament,” Gilani told the TV channel.

If convicted, he could be imprisoned for upto six months.

Zardari, accused of graft, had been granted amnesty under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which was issued in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the return of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Zardari. The NRO was struck down as void by the Supreme Court in 2009.

Gilani, earlier, had offered to resign to save democratic system and parliament. The prime minister had made the offer after a meeting with Zardari.

In January, Pakistan's National Assembly had passed a resolution supporting democracy in the country, which gave a breather to Gilani against whom the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice.

The lower house of parliament had passed the pro-democracy resolution moved by Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali.