Islamabad, Jan 19 (IANS): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was Thursday set to appear before the Supreme Court following a contempt notice for not implementing a directive to act against President Asif Ali Zardari for corruption.

Gilani had Jan 16 been directed to appear personally before the apex court bench.

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.

Prominent Pakistani lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan will represent Gilani.

Before the prime minister's arrival, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Law Minister Moula Baksh Chandio reached the apex court.

Ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) information secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said democracy had been restored after many sacrifices and the prime minister was appearing before the court, said Geo News.

The Supreme Court had been converted into a virtual fortress, with the prime minister's security having carried out a thorough scanning of the premises a day earlier.