RAWALPINDI, Oct 2: Interpol has put the Pakistan government in a fix by inquiring about the status of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto if she still is a ‘wanted person’, Dawn has learnt.

When asked about the status of the red notice issued by Interpol against the Pakistan People’s Party chairperson who plans to return home on Oct 18, Federal Investigation Agency director-general Tariq Pervez said: “It is the National Accountability Bureau that is to decide about the status of the red notice. Although, the red notice had been issued on its instruction, we have not received any directive from the NAB in this connection.”

He said he would be able to give the latest position about the red notice on Wednesday during office hours.

Interpol had issued the red notice against Ms Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari on a request of the Pakistan government in January 2006.

An official source told Dawn on Tuesday that the Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, had asked the government of Pakistan if Ms Bhutto was still a wanted person as its database at the general secretariat indicated and if the red notice against the PPP leader was still valid.

Another source said that in the light of Interpol’s request, the FIA director-general had asked the NAB chairman for guidance. But the FIA official said he had not received any such request from Interpol.