Interpol issues arrest warrants for Pakistani politicians
Islamabad, 27 January, (Asiantribune.com): The International Police (Interpol) has issued red notices for the arrests of former Pakistani Prime Minister and chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari.
A statement issued from Interpol office in London has confirmed the issuance of red notices. The statement said that these notices are not international red warrants. Red notices issued for interim arrest and could be challenged.
Interpol has issued the notice to 144 member countries and make sure that no political or racial motive involved in it. The reaction on red notices depends upon the member country’s policy and discretion. If extradition accord between the two countries exists, than the decision of extradition of accused could be taken with mutual consent.
,br> Ms. Bhutto and Asif Zaradari currently staying in United States and Pakistan and US have a bilateral extradition treaty.
Interpol issued the red warrant on the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan.
The Interpol control number of Mr Zardari’s red warrant, issued is A-209/I-2006 and the subject of the notice is "fugitive wanted for prosecution". The Interpol control number for a similar red warrant issued earlier for Benazir Bhutto is A-152/I-2006.
The NAB, in pursuance of a decision taken at the highest level, has started focusing on the cases against the former ruling couple. The government has also amended the NAB Ordinance to appoint Hasan Wasim Afzal, who had earlier served in the now defunct Ehtesab Bureau and pursued the corruption cases against Benazir and Zardari abroad, as deputy chairman of the country’s top accountability authority.
"The NAB had requested the Interpol for issuance of the red warrants for Benazir and Zardari pointing out United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Spain as the countries likely to be visited by them," sources said, adding that except Spain, Pakistan had extradition treaties/agreements with other four countries. The sources said Pakistan had signed an extradition treaty with the UAE but it was yet to be ratified by the two countries to invoke it for the extradition of the wanted person.
The sources said the NAB, under the instructions from the top decision-making level, has also reopened high profile corruption cases against politicians, bureaucrats, tax evaders and bankers. "We are removing dust from the files and injecting fresh air to the accountability process by reactivating the organization to take the pending cases to their logical conclusion," the sources said.
With regard to the cases against Benazir and Zardari, the sources said the NAB had decided to complete the court proceedings in all cases under section 512 of CrPC to ensure that the witnesses could be examined even in the absence of the accused so that the entire exercise might not go waste in the event of non-availability of the witnesses at the time when the accused appear before the courts.
"The decision to proceed under section 512 of CrPC has been taken keeping in view a Supreme Court judgment that a trial in the absence of the accused is unconstitutional and illegal," the sources said, adding that the cases against Benazir and Zardari were pending because both of them were out of country. Benazir left Pakistan in 1999 and Zardari left the country last year.
The cases against Benazir and Zardari are: Assets; SGS; Cotecna; ARY; Ursus tractors; BMW; and Polo-ground. An appeal in the Pakistan Steel Mills case is pending with the Supreme Court. An Ehtesab Bench of the Lahore High Court had convicted them in the SGS case but the Supreme Court had set aside the conviction, ordering retrial of the case.
A statement issued from Interpol office in London has confirmed the issuance of red notices. The statement said that these notices are not international red warrants. Red notices issued for interim arrest and could be challenged.
Interpol has issued the notice to 144 member countries and make sure that no political or racial motive involved in it. The reaction on red notices depends upon the member country’s policy and discretion. If extradition accord between the two countries exists, than the decision of extradition of accused could be taken with mutual consent.
,br> Ms. Bhutto and Asif Zaradari currently staying in United States and Pakistan and US have a bilateral extradition treaty.
Interpol issued the red warrant on the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan.
The Interpol control number of Mr Zardari’s red warrant, issued is A-209/I-2006 and the subject of the notice is "fugitive wanted for prosecution". The Interpol control number for a similar red warrant issued earlier for Benazir Bhutto is A-152/I-2006.
The NAB, in pursuance of a decision taken at the highest level, has started focusing on the cases against the former ruling couple. The government has also amended the NAB Ordinance to appoint Hasan Wasim Afzal, who had earlier served in the now defunct Ehtesab Bureau and pursued the corruption cases against Benazir and Zardari abroad, as deputy chairman of the country’s top accountability authority.
"The NAB had requested the Interpol for issuance of the red warrants for Benazir and Zardari pointing out United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Spain as the countries likely to be visited by them," sources said, adding that except Spain, Pakistan had extradition treaties/agreements with other four countries. The sources said Pakistan had signed an extradition treaty with the UAE but it was yet to be ratified by the two countries to invoke it for the extradition of the wanted person.
The sources said the NAB, under the instructions from the top decision-making level, has also reopened high profile corruption cases against politicians, bureaucrats, tax evaders and bankers. "We are removing dust from the files and injecting fresh air to the accountability process by reactivating the organization to take the pending cases to their logical conclusion," the sources said.
With regard to the cases against Benazir and Zardari, the sources said the NAB had decided to complete the court proceedings in all cases under section 512 of CrPC to ensure that the witnesses could be examined even in the absence of the accused so that the entire exercise might not go waste in the event of non-availability of the witnesses at the time when the accused appear before the courts.
"The decision to proceed under section 512 of CrPC has been taken keeping in view a Supreme Court judgment that a trial in the absence of the accused is unconstitutional and illegal," the sources said, adding that the cases against Benazir and Zardari were pending because both of them were out of country. Benazir left Pakistan in 1999 and Zardari left the country last year.
The cases against Benazir and Zardari are: Assets; SGS; Cotecna; ARY; Ursus tractors; BMW; and Polo-ground. An appeal in the Pakistan Steel Mills case is pending with the Supreme Court. An Ehtesab Bench of the Lahore High Court had convicted them in the SGS case but the Supreme Court had set aside the conviction, ordering retrial of the case.
posted by Marko at 1/26/2006 11:04:00 PM
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