(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130115-pakistan-ashraf-6a.photoblog600.jpg)T. Mughal / EPA, filePakistan's Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is accused of corruption during his tenure as minister for water and power.By Waj S. Khan, Producer, NBC NewsISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan was plunged into a fresh political crisis Tuesday after its judiciary ordered the arrest of the prime minister over corruption allegations amid ongoing public protests (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/14/16507727-protesters-pledge-to-establish-pakistans-tahrir-square).
The country’s Supreme Court ordered the detention of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and others accused of involvement in kickbacks over the construction of power stations -- a surprise development in an ongoing investigation.
It comes as tens of thousands of protesters occupy streets in the capital, Islamabad, demanding the resignation of the entire government.Slideshow: Pakistan: A nation in turmoil (http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/id/34972092/displaymode/1247/?wbSlideShowId=34972092&wbSection=news)(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-pakistan-2013/ss-130111-pakistan-2013-tease.380;380;7;70;0.jpg) (http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/id/34972092/displaymode/1247/?wbSlideShowId=34972092&wbSection=news)Muhammed Muheisen / APImages of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.Launch slideshow
NBCNews