( January 15, 2013, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf over corruption allegations.
Mr Ashraf denies accepting bribes when he approved power generation projects as minister for water and power in 2010.
The court ordered the arrest of 15 other people over the allegations.
Analysts say that the move is unlikely to lead to the prime minister's immediate removal.
The order comes as anti-government cleric Tahirul Qadri held a mass rally in Islamabad demanding the resignation of the government.
Television images showed protesters celebrating as news broke of the court's order.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says it may just be a coincidence - but to many observers the timing of the move bolsters allegations that the cleric is backed by elements of the judiciary and military. – BBC
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