Pakistan's attorney general resigns

By Aleem Maqbool BBC News, Islamabad

Mr Zardari has immunity but is still being investigated

Pakistan's Attorney General Anwar Mansoor has resigned in a row with the country's law ministry.

He said the government was not co-operating in the process of reopening corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and other officials.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that an amnesty afforded to hundreds of politicians and officials was illegal.

It said proceedings that were stopped when the amnesty came into force more than two years ago must be re-started.

Immunity

Anwar Mansoor had been voicing his frustrations with the government for days.

He said the law ministry had refused to provide documents and information he needed to get a money-laundering case against President Zardari reopened.

It was always a concern that with so many of those under investigation holding positions of power, trying them all would be a difficult process.

Mr Zardari, who is accused of having taken millions of dollars in kickbacks during the time his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, was prime minister, still has presidential immunity from prosecution.

But the Supreme Court insists corruption investigations into his financial affairs must continue.

It is undoubtedly putting pressure on an already strained relationship between Pakistan's president and its judiciary.

The resignation of the attorney general puts that relationship under the spotlight even more.

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