Pakistani Supreme Court Summons Prime Minister

Posted August 8th, 2012 at 2:05 am (UTC-5)
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Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to appear for ignoring orders to reopen corruption cases against the country's president.

The court's summons Wednesday is the latest move in a long-running battle with the government over allegations against President Asif Ali Zardari, who has denied any wrongdoing.

In June, the Supreme Court found former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani guilty of contempt for not asking Swiss authorities to reopen the case. It ruled he was ineligible for office, and Mr. Ashraf took the post.

The Pakistani parliament passed a law last month that would have protected Mr. Ashraf by exempting officials from contempt proceedings. But the Supreme Court last week struck down the law as unconstitutional.