Islamabad, Jan 19 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday appeared before the Supreme Court in a contempt of court case and said he had always respected the institution.

Gilani, who had been issued a contempt notice for not implementing a directive to act against President Asif Ali Zardari for corruption, said he had spent six years in prison and had never been reluctant to appear before the court that shows that he always respected the court, Geo News reported.

On Jan 16, he had 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 is representing Gilani.