Pakistan orders prime minister to reopen Asif Ali Zardari corruption case The country is already struggling with a militant insurgency, crippling power cuts and economic woes - and can ill-afford a lengthy period of political instability. However, the civilian government, the military and the courts are locked in a struggle for supremacy ever since General Pervez Musharraf was forced from power in 2008. Hours earlier, Mr Zardari signed into law a controversial bill exempting senior officials from contempt of court charges, in an apparent attempt to shield Mr Ashraf from the charges faced by his predecessor. However, the law is likely to face legal challenge. The controversy dates back to 2007 when Gen Musharraf threw out thousands of corruption cases against civil servants and politicians. It was part of a UK and US-brokered deal to ease a transition to civilian rule and allow Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Mr Zardari, to return to the country unhindered by graft allegations. But the amnesty was declared illegal two years later leaving Mr Zardari facing questions about money deposited in Swiss banks.