(Newser)
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Fresh turmoil in Pakistan today, as its Supreme Court ordered that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf be arrested within 24 hours. The move isn't exactly a surprise, but the drama there isn't limited to Ashraf's situation, which springs from accusations that the former water and power minister scored kickbacks from private energy initiatives. Rather, it's another name that's making waves: that of Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri. The firebrand cleric has been camped out in Islamabad, where he is calling for the government to resign—and he's surrounded by thousands of supporters, reports Reuters.
Qadri has pledged to remain near parliament until the government does away with the current legislature and installs a caretaker government. The military is believed to be backing him in the hopes he will create an opening for it to play a role in said government and potentially delay spring elections, reports the New York Times. Is Ashraf's lot linked to Qadri's? The Times says there's no proof of that, though analysts believe the court may be leveraging the anti-government sentiment he is creating in order to continue its crusade against President Asif Ali Zardari. Interesting side note: In addition to his many religious followers, Qadri has attracted a number of other supporters to his cause by way of his decision to leave a " luxurious" lifestyle in Canada and return to Pakistan.
