Pakistan plunged into a fresh political crisis on Tuesday with the Supreme Court ordering the arrest of PM Raja Pervez Ashraf for allegedly receiving bribes in power projects. Already rocked by fiery 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 lead to a second PM losing office in less than a year.
62-year-old Ashraf, who became PM after the exit of Yousuf Raza Gilani in June 2012, has been accused of receiving kickbacks and commission in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case as federal minister for water and power.
Gilani had to quit in the midst of a raging battle with SC over his refusal to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against president Asif Ali Zardari there. After Ashraf assumed power, the government wrote to Swiss authorities.
It's not clear as to what will be the political fallout of the SC order against Ashraf as this is probably the first case of an incumbent PM 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 Ashraf.
In March last year, SC had declared all contracts signed by the government for 'rental power plants' as illegal and directed authorities to take legal action against those responsible for clearing the projects, including Ashraf. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had so far refused to act on the court's directive.
62-year-old Ashraf, who became PM after the exit of Yousuf Raza Gilani in June 2012, has been accused of receiving kickbacks and commission in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case as federal minister for water and power.
Gilani had to quit in the midst of a raging battle with SC over his refusal to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against president Asif Ali Zardari there. After Ashraf assumed power, the government wrote to Swiss authorities.
It's not clear as to what will be the political fallout of the SC order against Ashraf as this is probably the first case of an incumbent PM 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 Ashraf.
In March last year, SC had declared all contracts signed by the government for 'rental power plants' as illegal and directed authorities to take legal action against those responsible for clearing the projects, including Ashraf. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had so far refused to act on the court's directive.