Pakistan taps Interpol for Pervez Musharraf’s arrest

Pakistan has urged Interpol to issue a warrant for the arrest of former president Pervez Musharraf in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a media report said Thursday.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Wednesday sent a request to Interpol’s representative in Pakistan to issue red corner warrants for Musharraf, who is an accused and proclaimed offender in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, Dawn reported.

Bhutto was assassinated December 27, 2007, after a Pakistan Peoples Party rally in Rawalpindi, just two weeks before the 2008 general elections which were later postponed.

FIA Special Prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry said the formal process had begun to bring back Musharraf.

Musharraf has been living in exile in Britain and the UAE since he resigned in August 2008.

Chaudhry said an officer has handed over an application to the Interpol representative for issuing red warrants for Musharraf.

“After scrutinising the application, which is a formality, the Interpol representative would seek permission from the interior ministry before sending the application to his head office in France,” he was quoted as saying.

Once red warrants have been issued, Musharraf will be arrested either at airports or at his residence anywhere in the world.

Musharraf seized power in 1999 after he dismissed the elected government of Nawaz Sharif hours after he was sacked as the army chief.

An anti-terrorism court has issued arrest warrants in connection with the Bhutto assassination.