Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he will appear in court to face a contempt notice served on him for failing to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari. 

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday launched contempt proceedings against the prime minister for not carrying out its order to reopen a graft case against Zardari and ordered Gilani to appear before the judges on Thursday, AFP reported. 

“The court has summoned me and I will appear before it as a mark of respect on January 19,” Gilani told the National Assembly late Monday, after his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and its coalition partners voted in favor of a resolution expressing full support for democracy in the country. 

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to write to Swiss authorities to reopen a corruption case against the president that centers on $60 million in kickbacks, which Zardari and his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, allegedly received from Swiss cargo companies. 

Analysts say that Pakistan's powerful army is backing the court to oust Zardari and his government through constitutional means. 

Gilani said, “There can be difference of opinion with the judiciary and the military but they cannot either pack up or derail the whole system. Rather, they have to strengthen it.” 

In Pakistan, prime ministers are not usually called to court and the order for Gilani's appearance befor the tribunal denotes the seriousness of the issue. If the premier is found guilty, he could be given six-month prison term and disqualified from holding office. 

The Supreme Court has announced six options to proceed on corruption charges against Zardari, including finding Gilani guilty in contempt, disqualifying him and the president, and issuing a ruling to hold early elections, which are scheduled for 2013 when parliament will complete its five-year term.