Source: Asia Times:
By Syed Fazl-e-Haider
KARACHI – Pakistan’s highest court reacted firmly to claims by the country’s anti-corruption chief that it overstepped its judicial powers by putting pressure on officials investigating allegations that last week prompted the court to order the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared that it would not allow anyone to interfere in proceedings, just as it did not allow a military dictator to do so in the past. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed authorities to submit to it a verified copy of a letter from the head of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), admiral (retired) Fasih Bokhari, to President Asif Ali Zardari. Chaudhry said the letter amounted to “criticizing and pressurizing” the court.