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Monday, Aug 27, 2012 11:45 AM UTC

Pakistani court gives PM more time to obey order

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Pakistani court gives PM more time to obey orderPakistan's Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf waves upon his arrival at the Supreme Court for a hearing in Islamabad, Pakistan on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Ashraf appeared at Supreme Court to explain why he has not followed instructions from a panel of judges to reopen an old corruption case against the country's president, Asif Ali Zardari. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)(Credit: AP)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s top court has given the country’s prime minister three more weeks to decide whether to obey its order to reopen an old corruption case against the president.

Monday’s decision was seen as a rare conciliatory gesture by the supreme court toward the government after months of conflict over the issue.

The court convicted former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of contempt and ousted him from office in June for refusing to write a letter asking Swiss authorities to reopen a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the late 1990s.

Many expected the judges to announce Monday that they would charge the current premier, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, with contempt for also refusing to write the letter. But they agreed to adjourn the case until Sept. 18.

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