Pakistan

Benazir murder case: ATC declares Musharraf a proclaimed offender

Musharraf knew his arrest warrants were issued and has disappeared to avoid arrest.

May 30, 2011

RAWALPINDI: An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi declared former President General (r) Pervez Musharraf proclaimed offender in the Benazir Bhutto murder case on Monday.

ATC Judge Rana Nishar Khan declared the former president proclaimed offender while hearing the case inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Inquiry officer Khalid Rasool informed the court that Musharraf knew that his arrest warrants were issued and has now disappeared to avoid arrest.

The court was told that British Home Department had officially refused to hand over Musharraf due to an absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries.

The next hearing of the case will take place on June 11.

Earlier in the month, the ATC had condemned the FIA on the lack of implementation on the arrest warrant of former President Pervez Musharraf in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

Sources said that no progress was made on Musharraf’s arrest warrant despite repeated reminders to the Pakistani High Commission in Britain.

The court had said that Musharraf will be declared an absconder in case of non-compliance of the court order.

In April, the court summoned Wajid Zia, the chief of the joint investigation team (JIT) to seek details about the delay in serving the arrest warrants of Musharraf.

The hearing of the case had been adjourned till May 21.

The non-bailable arrests warrants of Musharraf have been issued thrice by the court for the same case, but no action has been taken so far.

The former president is allegedly involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Despite being aware of the imminent danger to her life, he did not take the requisite security measures to prevent her assassination, according to the findings of a 57-page report submitted earlier before the court.

COMMENTS (5)

Naveed | 12 years ago | Reply Mush is the only "leader" in the subcontinent who has the capability to move ahead, with his out-of-the-box thinking and strategy making. Pakistan needs him more than ever.

Pro Musharraf | 12 years ago | Reply tried and tested.... musharraf is the lesser of the two evils... when the current govt came into power all their ministers said on TV "everyone has taken bribe so whats wrong if we do it".... thing is yes everyone does everyones corrupt but unlike the current govt all govnts before displayed some form of inhibitions and control....the curent govt and its supporters are greedy and power hungry.... as for Musharraf... hes a hundred times more innocent than even tea boys hired working for the ruling party... the educated youth in this country needs musharraf to come back.. we need economic growth...we need a leader who is in the country and addressed the nations concerns during tough times.. we dont need a leader like the current one who is forever busy vacationing in france.... seriously whatever happened to accountability for taxpayeres money.. and no we dont need anymore leaders to use our tax money to pay other govts a visit and beg for money which they only wish to deposit in thier offshore bank accounts... WEV HAD ENOUGH... the past 4 years ahve been traumatic to say the least.. wer a fragile state with an absent leader.. we need someone like musharraf to step in and fix the mess made!