Ashraf given more time to open case

Pakistan's increasingly powerful Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 18) gave Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf more time to re-open a corruption case against the country's president.

Ashraf, who could be charged with contempt of court or face disqualification if he does not comply, has until September 25 to submit a draft of a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Supreme Court Judge Asif Saeed Khosa said Ashraf was "exempted" from appearing in court personally in the case during future hearings.

His predecessor, Yusaf Raza Gilani, was found guilt of contempt and disqualified from holding the post of prime minister in June.

The case has fuelled tension in a long-running stand-off between the government and increasingly assertive judiciary.

If Ashraf is disqualified, the ruling Pakistan People's Party can simply nominate a new prime minister since it has a comfortable majority in parliament.