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Pakistani court orders serving arrest warrant on Musharraf

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 9, IRNA -- An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan Saturday asked prosecutors to contact the British Home Department for serving arrest warrant on former President Pervez Musharraf in connection with the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto, lawyers said.

Bhutto, two times prime minister, was killed in December 2007 in a shooting and suicide bomb attack shortly after she addressed an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi.

The court has issued arrest warrants for Musharraf, who has been living in Britain since 2009, and last week had summoned a senior official to explain why authorities have been unable to serve an arrest warrant for Musharraf.

Head of the investigation team, Waheed Anjum, told the court that the arrest warrant could still not be served. He submitted a report from the British Home department which says that it is still in the process to implement the court order. The report said the British government has sought some more time to implement the court’s orders.

Later, the judge, hearing the case in Rawalpindi's Adiala prison, adjourned until April 23.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said during this week visit to Islamabad that Musharraf cannot be handed over to Pakistan as there is no extradition treaty between the UK and Pakistan. However, he said Britain would look into the matter if a formal request is made and Britain gets some legal documents.

The anti-terrorism court judge, Rana Nisar Ahmed Khan, was unhappy over the inability of the authorities to serve the arrest warrant on Musharraf.

A lawyer for the former police officer, who was arrested for negligence to provide security to Benazir, requested the court to issue red warrant of Musharraf’s arrest but the court declined.

Mohammad Ali Saif, spokesman for Musharraf, says charges against Musharraf are politically-motivated.

Musharraf, who has launched a political party – All Pakistan Muslim League -- has said he will return to Pakistan for the new elections.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30330751