Pakistan court issues arrest warrant for Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi on Saturday issued an arrest warrant against former President Pervez Musharraf in connection with the murder of Benazir Bhutto, The Nation newspaper reported.

The court issued the bail-able arrest warrant and ordered Musharraf to appear in court on February 19 after an incamera hearing of Benazir Bhutto assassination case was held in Adiala Jail before Judge Rana Nasar Ahmed Khan.



Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) pleaded for the non-bailable arrest warrant against Pervez Musharraf, arguing the former president has been named as accused in the interim chalan presented to the court.

Muhammad Ali Saif, secretary-general of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party, accused the government of not following legal procedures and said that the FIA did not contact Musharraf for a statement regarding the assassination case, otherwise he would have definitely recorded his statement. Musharraf's spokesman in London said the former leader will not return to Pakistan, even though the FIA requested that Musharraf be declared a fugitive if he does not cooperate.

Forme prime minister Bhutto was shot dead in December 2007 in Rawalpindi while campaigning for the general election. The former military ruler has been living in London in a self-imposed exile after losing the general election in 2008.

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