Pakistan court issues contempt notice to FIA chief in Benazir case

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court today issued a contempt notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief for not serving an arrest warrant issued against former President Pervez Musharraf in connection with the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.

The court in Rawalpindi issued the contempt of court notice to FIA director general Malik Muhammad Iqbal for not presenting Musharraf in court and for not appearing before the judge as ordered to do so at the last hearing.

The FIA had earlier informed the judge that the arrest warrant, issued against Musharraf for his failure to cooperate with the probe into the assassination of the former premier, could not be implemented as Britain ?" where he has been living in self-exile since 2009 -- does not have an extradition treaty with Pakistan.

The court summoned Khalid Rasool, the former inquiry officer in the assassination case, to appear before it at the next hearing on May 30.

Musharraf has been accused of negligence in providing security to Bhutto at the time of her assassination on December 27, 2007.

The FIA has contended that Musharraf's regime did not put in place adequate security measures for Bhutto despite being aware of threats to her life.