Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani expected to offer compromise to Supreme Court "There is no harm in writing a letter to the Swiss authorities," said Aitzaz Ahsan. The president has complete immunity against criminal procedures in courts. Last week the military gave Mr Gilani a public dressing down for criticising the actions of two of its most senior officers, prompting feverish speculation that the army was plotting a takeover. Tension between the two sides has eased for now but that still leaves two legal challenges. The Supreme Court is investigating whether the government approved an alleged plot to replace senior military officers. And Thursday's case centres on corruption allegations that date back to the 1990s when Mr Zardari's wife, Benazir Bhutto, was in power. The couple were found guilty in absentia in a Swiss court in 2003 of laundering millions of dollars in kickbacks from Swiss companies. They appealed, and Swiss authorities abandoned the case in 2008 at the request of the Pakistani government. The investigation was among thousands dropped as a result of an amnesty that allowed Mrs Bhutto to return from exile. However, the amnesty has since been overturned and the government ordered to reopen investigations. Mr Gilani faces a maximum of five years in prison and disqualification from public office if he is found guilty of contempt. His allies believe the threat of a coup has receded as the military recognised the limits of its power. A senior figure in the Pakistan People's Party said the country had changed since the 1999 coup that brought Pervez Musharraf to power. "Things have calmed down," he said. No one wanted their fingerprints on anything. Since Pakistan was founded in 1947, no civilian government has ever completed a full five-year term before being toppled by a military coup or forced to call early elections. Few now think the current government can survive until the end of its term in February 2012 and well-placed observers believe an autumn election is likely.