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Pakistan's anti-corruption body refuses to arrest Prime Minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan: 17, IRNA -- The anti-corruption body in Pakistan on Thursday refused to arrest the country’s Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, in a corruption case, saying that the evidences are not enough to arrest him.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the Prime Minister Ashraf involved in purchasing rental power projects when he was the minister for water and power.

The court had ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), to arrest the PM and 15 other people in 24 hours and submit a report.

But the NAB Chairman Fasih Bokhari said the investigation report earlier submitted to the Supreme Court in the Rental Power Projects (RPP) case was inaccurate.

The court had ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf after reviewing the two investigation reports submitted by NAB. But, during today’s hearing, NAB chairman claimed that the reports did not have the complete record of the case.

Bokhari also said that the investigation officers had worked in a hurry and did not provide proofs in their reports.

Some legal experts have maintained that the prime minister can perform his duties as the chief executive of the country even from the confines of a prison cell.

The apex court in its earlier verdict in March last year had observed that the rules and regulations were violated in these projects due to which the national exchequer witnessed losses of billions.

The Supreme Court has declared the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) as illegal and also ordered them to be shut down.

The Supreme Court had in the last year verdict ordered to initiate proceedings against the former Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Asharaf and all others involved in the case. However, the country's anti-corruption panel had not carried out required investigation despite the orders.

Pervez Ashraf had been in the Prime Minister’s house since his arrest orders had been issued and he performed his professional duties.

The chief justice, Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry, criticized the NAB for changing its stance and sad the court can itself monitor the case.

**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1055124