Pakistan on January 15 plunged into a fresh political crisis with the
Supreme Court ordering the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf
for allegedly receiving bribes in power projects.
Already rocked by cleric Tahirul Qadri’s ongoing protest seeking
dissolution of provincial and national assemblies, Pakistan appeared
headed for uncertainty with the court setting a 24-hour deadline for
authorities to implement its arrest orders that may cost a second Prime
Minister to lose office in less than a year.
62-year-old Ashraf, who became Prime Minister after
the exit of Yousuf Raza Gilani in June last year, has been accused of
receiving kickbacks and commission in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs)
case as federal minister for water and power.
Mr. Gilani had to quit in the midst of a raging battle with the Supreme
court over his refusal to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft
cases against President Asif Ali Zardari there. After Mr. Ashraf assumed
power, the government wrote to Swiss authorities.
It is not clear as to what will be the political fallout of the Supreme
Court’s order against Mr. Ashraf as this is probably the first case of
an incumbent Prime Minister being ordered to be arrested in a corruption
case. It remains to be seen whether the ruling PPP will elect a new
leader to replace Mr. Ashraf.
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