ISLAMABAD-Pakistan’s top court has given the country’s prime minister three more weeks to decide whether to obey its order to reopen an old corruption case against the president.

Monday’s decision was seen as a rare conciliatory gesture by the Supreme Court toward the government after months of conflict over the issue.

He court convicted former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of contempt and ousted him from office in June for refusing to write a letter asking Swiss authorities to reopen a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the late 1990s.

Many expected the judges to announce Monday that they would charge the current premier, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, with contempt for also refusing to write the letter. But they agreed to adjourn the case until Sept. 18. (AP)