Pak SC keeps the heat on PM in corruption case, Qadri raises pitch against govt

Islamabad: Pakistan's political crisis seems to be deepening. The Supreme Court there intends to keep the heat on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in a corruption case. To add to the government's troubles, Sufi cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri is drawing thousands at his rally against the government and has set a midnight deadline for the Zardari government to quit.

The deadlock between judiciary and the PPP government continued for the second day as Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry stayed firm that the hearing against the Pakistan Prime Minister will go on. CNN-IBN has learnt that Ashraf will now be looking for a bail and the PPP government's strategy would be to stretch their stay in power as elections are expected in March.

But no less troubling for the government is the growing number of people pouring in support of Qadri's million man march targeting the government for corruption and demanding electoral and political reforms.

But the government alleges that Qadri is misguiding people. Sources also tell CNN-IBN that Qadri is believed by the government to be backed by judiciary and the Army. "He wants the role of military and judiciary within the politics of Pakistan. It's unconstitutional. He can be arrested for this," said Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

Uncertainty is looming large on the Pakistani government whose Prime Minister is in trouble at a time when anti-government protests are on and there is trouble at diplomatic level with India.