ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday held emergency talks among top leaders in his main ruling Pakistan People’s Party after the Supreme Court disqualified the prime minister from office.

Television footage showed Zardari, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Zardari’s son, party co-chairman, Bilawal, gathered in the heavily guarded presidency in the capital Islamabad.

Officials were tight-lipped on how the president would respond to the Supreme Court’s announcement that followed Gilani’s conviction on April 26 for contempt over refusing to reopen corruption cases against Zardari.

“President Zardari is presiding and Gilani is also attending, to assess the situation,” a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The president also summoned heads of coalition parties to the presidency for further talks at 8pm, the official added.