Pakistani Official Rejects Court Order To Arrest PM

Raja Pervez Ashraf

Pakistan's top anticorruption official has refused an order by the country's Supreme Court to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

On January 15, the court ordered Ashraf's arrest in connection with a corruption case linked to power projects.

Fasih Bokhari, the head of the National Accountability Bureau, said that the initial investigation into the case was flawed.

Bokhari said he needs more time to determine whether the prime minister should be arrested.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry subsequently ordered Bokhari to bring the case files back to the judges so they can determine whether there is incriminating evidence.

Ashraf initiated the power projects when he was minister for water and electricity from 2008 to 2011.

His name later surfaced as one of the key beneficiaries of the project.

Based on reporting by AP and RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal