Benazir assassination case: ATC issues arrest warrant

An Anti Terrorism Court on Saturday issued arrest warrant of former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) for his alleged involvement in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto in December 27, 2007. Judge of Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) No-III Rana Nisar Ahmed resumed the hearing of the case here on Saturday.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented an interim challan of the case in which the prosecution held Pervez Musharraf responsible for assassination of Benazir Bhutto, in light of the statements of then Director General, National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) and then Director General of Intelligence Bureau (IB).
After hearing the arguments, the judge issued arrest warrant of Pervez Musharraf and asked the FIA to present the former military ruler before the court on February 19, next hearing, otherwise the court would declare him as proclaimed offender. The judge after hearing arguments issued arrest warrant of Pervez Musharraf and directed him to appear before the court on February 19, special prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali said.
He said that the joint investigation team that had been formed to probe into the assassination said in its report that Musharraf was involved in the case and was equally responsible. The report also stated that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was a broad conspiracy involving Pervez Musharraf, two police officials and terrorists, Chaudhry Zulfiqar said after the closed-door hearing that took place in Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi.
He refused to give any clear statement on the question 'what happen if Musharraf refused to appear before the court, saying that it is early to say anything on the issue. The prosecutors pleaded before the court to declare Pervez Musharraf as an absconder if he refused to cooperate in the probe and also named him as an accused in the high profile murder of Benazir Bhutto along with other 26 people. FIA in its interim challan declared former president as absconder and pleaded the court that if he failed to appear before the court he should be declared as proclaimed offender.