Supreme Court orders Pakistan PM's arrest

Pakistan's Supreme Court Tuesday directed the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on graft charges, Dawn News reported.

The apex court ordered the prime minister's arrest along with 16 others during the hearing on a power rental case. The court also ordered that the arrested people be produced before it later Tuesday, Online new agency reported citing TV reports.

Earlier Tuesday, the apex court said Pakistan's general elections, due later this year, will be held on time, and the Election Commission should be ready for it.

Hearing a case related to reforms in the election process, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the elections cannot be delayed, Geo News reported.

Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that the elections would be held on time no matter what. No compromise would be acceptable, he added. - IANS