Permanent arrest warrant for Musharraf

RAWALPINDI - The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) No 3 on Saturday issued permanent arrest warrant for former president Pervez Musharraf in Benazir Bhuttos assassination case.
ATC Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed heard the case at Adiala Jail and sought details of the assets of Pervez Musharraf after FIA prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar filed a petition for confiscation of the movable and immovable assets of the former president. The prosecutor told the court that even after being summoned and declaring proclaimed offender, Musharraf did not appear in the court thus the court should give orders to confiscate his property. The ATC issued permanent arrest warrants for Musharraf that will be valid till his arrest and ordered to submit details of his movable and immovable property in the court.
FIA Director Malik Iqbal informed the court in the hearing that the case Investigation Officer Khalid Rasool has been restored on the direction of the court and other court orders have also been implemented. He also requested the court for withdrawal of the contempt of court charges against him which was turned down by the court. The court adjourned the hearing till June 25. On the other hand, APML spokesman Fawad Chaudhry rejected the ATC order against Musharraf, saying: The permanent arrest warrant was issued by ATC was illegal and unconstitutional because his leader had already announced coming back from abroad to Pakistan before the general election.
Musharraf is not present in Pakistan and he was living in British, he said, adding that the warrant was issued on political bases to prevent him from making a comeback. He said that properties of Musharraf were assets of Pakistan. The former president was declared PO by the ATC in BB murder case on May 30 and the court also ordered FIA to publish advertisement against Musharraf in British newspapers.
FIA Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ahmed produced its compliance report related to the non-bailable arrest warrants of Musharraf, issued by the court, which stated that the British Home Department has declined to comply with the warrants as there was no agreement of change of criminals existed between Pakistan and the UK.
The FIA also produced documents and a CD containing the statements of the former president wherein he refused to appear before the court. Thats why the court declared Musharraf as PO in the case.