Tight security to stop Ashraf from fleeing

Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on Wednesday ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and other co-accused in the RPP case.

The National Acconta-bility Bureau (NAB) was tasked to ensure that the Prime Minister does not flee the country.

The Chief Justice had also directed the authorities to present the Prime Minister before the court on Wednesday along with the other co-accused.

“The judges have taken an oath of providing justice and will pass a verdict in the case in accordance with the law and Constitution”, Justice Chaudhry said while hearing the case.

He also criticised federal ministers for giving out opinions on the case without knowing the details.

The Supreme Court’s orders to arrest of Prime Minister Ashraf came while Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran ( TMQ) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri was addressing protesters outside the parliament building, caused uproar across the country.

The ruling also led to speculations of an ‘ imminent coup’ which resulted in a 570 point crash of the Karachi Stock market 100index.

The deadline for authorities to arrest the Prime Minister, along with 16 other respondents in the case ended on Wednesday.

PPP leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, commenting on the developments, said that the PM can perform his duties as the Chief Executive of the country even from the confines of a prison cell.

Sources said that the NAB might not arrest Prime Minister Ashraf Raja Rervez despite orders by the Supreme Court till the time he holds the office of the Chief Executive of the country.