The Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC) on Monday declared former military ruler Pervez Musharraf a Proclaimed Offender (PO) in the Benazir assassination case. Taking notice of Federal Investigation Agency’s special public prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar’ request, Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed declared the former president a PO.
The court had issued arrest warrants of Musharraf in the case and ordered the investigation agency FIA to submit compliance report. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that no progress had been made on the arrest warrants of Musharraf. The FIA also produced documents and a CD of the statements of the former President. The court was informed that Pakistan has no extradition treaty with the UK.
The ATC Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed was also informed that Musharraf has announced, he will not appear before the court in BB murder case and evidence to this effect were produced to the court The court declared Musharraf as proclaimed offender and adjourned the case hearing till June 11.
Earlier in April, Mr Zulfiqar had requested the court to start the process of declaring Musharraf proclaimed offender because his arrest warrants could not be served on him and that he was wilfully avoiding them.
According to legal experts, declaring the former army chief a proclaimed offender would enable the court to attach his immovable property in Pakistan and proceed with the trial of other accused in the case, leaving the authorities to seek other means for his arrest.
Mr Musharraf has been accused of failing to provide adequate security to Benazir Bhutto and conspiring to kill her.
The court had issued arrest warrants of Musharraf in the case and ordered the investigation agency FIA to submit compliance report. The FIA prosecutor informed the court that no progress had been made on the arrest warrants of Musharraf. The FIA also produced documents and a CD of the statements of the former President. The court was informed that Pakistan has no extradition treaty with the UK.
The ATC Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed was also informed that Musharraf has announced, he will not appear before the court in BB murder case and evidence to this effect were produced to the court The court declared Musharraf as proclaimed offender and adjourned the case hearing till June 11.
Earlier in April, Mr Zulfiqar had requested the court to start the process of declaring Musharraf proclaimed offender because his arrest warrants could not be served on him and that he was wilfully avoiding them.
According to legal experts, declaring the former army chief a proclaimed offender would enable the court to attach his immovable property in Pakistan and proceed with the trial of other accused in the case, leaving the authorities to seek other means for his arrest.
Mr Musharraf has been accused of failing to provide adequate security to Benazir Bhutto and conspiring to kill her.
