Pakistan's prime minister was charged with contempt by the country's highest court this morning.
Yousuf Raza Gilani pleaded not guilty to charges that could see him jailed for six months and disqualified from office.
Summoned over the government's two-year refusal to write to authorities in Switzerland asking them to re-open corruption cases against the president, Mr Gilani is Pakistan's first premier ever to be charged in office.
A long-running stand-off between the government and the judiciary has fanned political instability in Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, were suspected of using Swiss accounts to launder about $12m in alleged bribes paid by companies seeking customs inspection contracts in the 1990s.
Mr Gilani, who was dressed in a dark suit, grey tie and white shirt, was charged within minutes of appearing in the Supreme Court.
Reading out the charge sheet, Judge Nasir ul-Mulk said the prime minister had "wilfully flouted, disregarded and disobeyed" orders from the Supreme Court over re-opening alleged laundered money cases.
"Do you plead guilty?" asked Mr Mulk.
"No," Mr Gilani replied, adding that he would respond further in writing.
The court ordered the attorney general to prosecute the case, giving him until Thursday to file documents, which the court will examine on 22 February, and the defence until 27 February to file documents and a list of witnesses.
Evidence from Mr Gilani's lawyer will then be recorded on 28 February, three days before 2 March Senate elections, at which the ruling Pakistan People's Party is expected to win a near-majority of seats.
Mr Gilani was exempted from appearing in court until further notice.
The prime minister has always insisted that Mr Zardari is immune from prosecution as president and says the cases are politically motivated.
