Pakistan PM Raja Pervez Ashraf appears in Supreme Court to face contempt charge

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf today appeared in Pakistan's Supreme Court to face a contempt charge for failing to act on orders to reopen graft cases against the President, marking his second appearance in the court.

Ashraf was driven to the main entrance of the apex court in a SUV at around 9 am. Wearing a gray bandh gala suit, he emerged from the vehicle and waved at his supporters standing outside the building before going inside.

Inside courtroom no 4, Ashraf sat flanked by several federal ministers and leaders of parties in the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

Shortly before the hearing began, federal minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said the government would present its viewpoint to the court in keeping with the laid down process and procedures.

"The government will exercise all options as any confrontation between state institutions will not be good," Awan told reporters outside the court.

The government will work with the Supreme Court as the country heads towards the next general election, she said.

At the last hearing on August 27, a five-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa accepted Ashraf's plea for more time to address the issue of reopening the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and gave him three weeks.

Ashraf is the second premier to appear in the apex court to face a contempt charge for refusing to revive the cases against Zardari in Switzerland.