Monday will mark the beginning of a high profile court battle over the political future of the ruling Pakistani Peoples Party (PPP) government, as leadership heads to the Supreme Court to defend their refusal to investigate members of the government, including President Zardari, on corruption charges.

The Supreme Court ruled in December 2009 that a law aimed at granting immunity for government officials was unconstitutional. Last week the Supreme Court threatened to remove both Zardari and Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani from power for refusing to implement the ruling.

The battle with the Supreme Court, along with the continuing investigation into Zardari’s coup memo, has PPP advisors urging the government to agree on early elections to prevent a military coup.

PM Gilani, however, rejected the idea, saying that the PPP would rule through 2013 no matter what. He also rejected the idea that he should retract his condemnation of the military leadership, saying that as prime minister he answers to no one.

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