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Travel ban for Pakistani minister Pakistan minister court summons
(about 11 hours later)
Pakistani Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar has said that immigration officials stopped him from boarding a plane for an official visit to China. A judge in Karachi has summoned the Interior Minister, Rehman Malik to appear before an anti-corruption court.
He is one of around 250 officials being investigated by Pakistan's anti-corruption agency. It follows a court ruling this week which ruled out an immunity granted to the minister and thousands of other Pakistani officials.
The supreme court recently ruled that an amnesty protecting senior members of government was unconstitutional. Mr Malik is one of around 250 officials whose corruption and criminal cases have been re-opened.
Those under investigation are barred from leaving Pakistan but have so far not been named. On Thursday Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was barred from going to China after he was stopped at the airport.
The controversial amnesty was brought in by the previous president, Pervez Musharraf, and its removal opens the way to possible prosecution for allies of the current President, Asif Zardari . Mr Mukhtar said immigration officials had stopped him from boarding the plane for an official visit.
The latest developments after the supreme court ruled on Wednesday that an amnesty protecting senior members of government was unconstitutional.
Only recently has it been revealed that more than 8,000 politicians and officials benefited from the legislation.
Those under investigation are barred from leaving Pakistan but the others have so far not been named.
Presidential immunity
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that the ruling has thrown Pakistan's political administration into turmoil.
Many ministers may now have their movements curtailed
Our correspondent says that calls are growing for the president and the entire government to step down - something presidential aides have said will not happen.
The controversial amnesty was brought in by the previous president, Pervez Musharraf, and its removal opens the way to possible prosecution for allies of the current President, Asif Zardari.
Mr Zardari himself faces several pending court cases against him in Pakistan but is protected by presidential immunity.Mr Zardari himself faces several pending court cases against him in Pakistan but is protected by presidential immunity.
Before taking office, he spent years in jail after being convicted on corruption charges he says were politically motivated.Before taking office, he spent years in jail after being convicted on corruption charges he says were politically motivated.
Pakistan's main opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League-N of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has called on the president to resign.Pakistan's main opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League-N of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has called on the president to resign.
'I cannot leave' Exit list
Mr Mukhtar told local television that his name was on the "exit list" restricting travel and that the federal investigation authorities had said he could not leave the country.Mr Mukhtar told local television that his name was on the "exit list" restricting travel and that the federal investigation authorities had said he could not leave the country.
He told Geo TV that he had been planning to visit China for three days on an official visit in connection with the delivery of a warship.He told Geo TV that he had been planning to visit China for three days on an official visit in connection with the delivery of a warship.
"My staff reached the airport along with other delegation members including the naval chief," he said.
"I was informed that my name is on the exit list... federal investigation authorities officials have said that I cannot leave the country.
"It was in connection with a corruption case but there is no corruption case against me - it is only an inquiry which is pending against me for the past 12 years.""It was in connection with a corruption case but there is no corruption case against me - it is only an inquiry which is pending against me for the past 12 years."
He said he would "strongly defend" himself in court.He said he would "strongly defend" himself in court.
The minister added that his delegation had left for China without him late on Thursday.
Controversial amnesty
The amnesty was introduced by Mr Musharraf in order to allow Mr Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country and stand for office, with the aim of a possible power-sharing deal with Mr Musharraf.The amnesty was introduced by Mr Musharraf in order to allow Mr Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country and stand for office, with the aim of a possible power-sharing deal with Mr Musharraf.
She returned to Pakistan from abroad after the so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was signed into law, but was assassinated soon after. She returned to Pakistan from abroad after the so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance was signed into law, but was assassinated soon after.
It has only recently been revealed that more than 8,000 politicians and officials benefited from the legislation.
The Supreme Court has called for all these cases to be re-opened, with hundreds of senior politicians and civilian bureaucrats now facing criminal and corruption charges.
Pakistan is often ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world by anti-graft campaigners.
According to a listing produced by global watchdog Transparency International, it came 40th out of 180 countries surveyed.