Pakistan appeals to Interpol over Musharraf arrest

KARACHI: Pakistan is in the final stages of asking Interpol to help arrest former President Pervez Musharraf over the murder of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Tuesday.

"We will bring Musharraf back to the country soon with a red notice issued through Interpol," Malik told lawmakers in Sindh Assembly.

"We are in the final phase of doing this," he said without elaborating.

Courts have issued warrants for his arrest over the 2006 death of Akbar Bugti, a Baluch rebel leader in the southwest, and the 2007 assassination of Bhutto.

Malik accused Musharraf of refusing to provide her with adequate security and of threatening her by telephone when she was in Washington before returning to Pakistan in October 2007.

"Musharraf threatened her on phone: If you come to Pakistan, you will be responsible for the consequences. If you come to Pakistan before the elections, I will not be responsible for your security," said Malik.

He quoted Bhutto as replying: "General, the decision to come to Pakistan is mine, not yours."

In March 2011, prosecutor also said Islamabad would ask Interpol to circulate a global arrest warrant for Musharraf over Bhutto's murder.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012