A potentially explosive row between the Pakistani government and the supreme court appears to have been temporarily defused, after the prime minister was summoned to the court to face contempt charges.

The court charged the prime minister with being in contempt of court for not implementing an earlier court order to the government to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Zardari.

The government contends that Zardari enjoys immunity from prosecution under Pakistan's constitution.

Al Jazeera's Imtiaz Tyab reports from Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.