Islamabad, Feb 13 (IANS): The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Monday said it is "a sad day" for the country after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was indicted by the Supreme Court in a contempt of court case.

PPP secretary for information Qamar Zaman Kaira said it was a very sad day that the prime minister has been charge sheeted.

"For the first time the prime minister has been charged. It's a sad day for Pakistan," Geo News quoted Kaira as saying after the court hearing got over.

In a first for any prime minister in Pakistan, Gilani was Monday indicted by the Supreme Court in the contempt of court case for refusing to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The court had issued him a contempt notice Jan 16.

Gilani had appeared before the Supreme Court Jan 19 in the contempt case for not acting against Zardari for corruption and defended his move, saying that the constitution provided immunity to the president.

The apex court had warned the government of action if its ruling on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), granting immunity to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases, was not implemented by Jan 10, 2012.