ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency sent on Wednesday a formal request to Director of Interpol, Pakistan, to issue red warrants for former president and army chief Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf who is an accused and proclaimed offender in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, Dawn has learnt.

FIA’s Special Prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry confirmed that the formal process had begun to bring back the former army general.

Mr Chaudhry said an officer of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of the BB assassination case had handed over an application to the Interpol representative for issuing red warrants for Gen Musharraf.

“After scrutinising the application, which is a formality, the Interpol representative would seek permission from the interior ministry before sending the application to his head office in France,” he said.

Once red warrants have been issued, Mr Musharraf will be arrested either at airports or at his residence anywhere in the world.

After the arrest, he would be brought back to the country and the investigation agency would produce him before the court where his remand would be sought for further investigation.

According to the FIA prosecutor, the retired general is accused of having failed to provide adequate security to Ms Bhutto who was assassinated in a gun- and bomb attack outside the Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi while leaving an election rally on Dec 27, 2007.

Gen Musharraf planned to return to the country and take part in the next general elections, but postponed the plan after the government warned him that he would be arrested upon his arrival.

The Rawalpindi ATC-III had issued non-bailable warrants against him in the assassination case and declared him a proclaimed offender.