South Asia
Pakistan: NAB chief refuses to arrest PM
Islamabad, Jan 17: Amid political crisis in Pakistan, the country\'s anti-corruption chief has refused to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in connection to Rental Power Projects (RPP) case as was directed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, media reports said on Thursday.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Fasih Bokhari reportedly said he did not have enough evidence to arrest the Prime Minister.
Bokhari told the court he needed more time to decide whether Ashraf was needed to be arrested as initial investigation into the case was faulty, reports said.
"National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Fasih Bokhari declared the investigation report earlier submitted to the Supreme Court in the Rental Power Projects (RPP) case as inaccurate," The Express Tribune reported.
The Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday directed to arrest Ashraf in connection to RPP case.
A three-member bench of the apex court ordered the authorities to arrest 16 people, including Ashraf, in connection to the scam.
"PM Ashraf was given the title of Raja Rental after he was accused of receiving kickbacks in the rental power projects. He was also accused of buying property in London from money earned through corruption in various scams," The Express Tribune earlier reported.
"On March 30, the apex court had directed the National Accountability Bureau to proceed against those who were in the post of minister for water and power from 2006 till the next general elections. As a result, on April 20, NAB issued arrest warrants for 33 persons, including Ashraf," the report said.
