Raja Pervez Ashraf: Pakistan Supreme Court orders arrest of PM

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of PM Raja Pervez Ashraf and 15 others over corruption allegations, raising fears of a political crisis just months ahead of an election.

Mr Ashraf denies accepting bribes when approving power generation projects as minister for water and power in 2010.

Analysts say that the move is unlikely to lead to his immediate removal.

It comes as a populist cleric led thousands of protesters in Islamabad, demanding the government resign.

There was a mood of mass euphoria as the news of the court's order reached demonstrators, led by Tahirul Qadri. Some jumped for joy and others hugged, some crying.

Mr Ashraf's predecessor, Yousuf Raza Gilani, was forced out as prime minister last June after the Supreme Court convicted him of contempt for failing to pursue a corruption case against the president.

Mr Ashraf was appointed in his place, but many predicted that his tenure would also be troubled.

The Supreme Court order says the prime minister and the others should be arrested and produced before court within 24 hours. But correspondents say the prime minister's lawyers may find ways of delaying any appearance.