UK refuses to extradite Musharraf

British government has refused to extradite former president General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), wanted by Anti-Terrorism Court in assassination of Benazir Bhutto, as there exists no extradition treaty case between Pakistan and the UK.
This was stated by the Chief Prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Chaudhry Zulfiqar, here on Saturday during the hearing of Benazir assassination case at the Anti-Terrorism Court. Rana Nisar Ahmed, the Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court III, resumed the hearing on Saturday amid high security in Central Jail Adiala where FIA prosecutor presented the written reply of the British Home Department, which was sent in response to a request made by the Pakistan High Commission in London.
The Anti-Terrorism Court took serious note of non-compliance of arrest warrants of Pervez Musharraf in the assassination case and summoned the Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Wajid Zia to inform the court on the issue. The court directed the JIT chief to appear before court on next hearing fixed for April 9.
The FIA prosecutor informed the court that the British Home Department in its letter has categorically refused to hand over Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan because there was no extradition treaty between the two countries. He informed the court that FIA sent arrest warrants on the residential address of Pervez Musharraf, provided by the Pakistan High Commission in London.
Later, talking to media, Chaudhry Zulfiqar said that Pervez Musharraf was central character in December 27, 2007 murder of Benazir Bhutto and the prosecution would leave no stone unturned to bring him back to Pakistan and try him in the court. It was decided to move Interpol to bring Musharraf back to Pakistan, he added. He said that during the whole process, it was observed that there were some sympathisers in the government who did not want Musharraf back in Pakistan.
Responding to a question, Zulfiqar said that if Musharraf remained at large, the court under section 87 of Criminal Procedure Code could declare him proclaimed offender and impound all his movable and immovable property in Pakistan. He alleged that Inspector Kashif Riaz, who is respondent in the FIR filed in city Police Station Rawalpindi for assassination of Benazir Bhutto, was trying to escape from Pakistan while Punjab Police has also recommended Kashif Riaz for foreign training.
Zulfiqar said that the FIA has recommended to put Kashif Riaz's name on exit control list. It may be mentioned here that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had on March 25 claimed that all the assassins of Benazir Bhutto were arrested along with the weapons they used and they have told the investigators about whole plot.