RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday filed a petition with the Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC), seeking former president Pervez Musharraf’s trial in absentia in former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.

“Under the clause 19 and sub-section 10 of the ATC, any accused can be sentenced five to ten years rigorous imprisonment on completion of the trial in absentia,” said senior public prosecutor of the agency Chaudhry Zulfiqar.

He said the ATC, in the light of the challan submitted by the FIA, had declared Musharraf an absconder and ordered to freeze his assets. Around three weeks ago, the FIA had informed the Interpol, an international police agency, that the arrest warrant of the former president issued by the Anti-Terrorist Court will remain valid till its compliance.

“The Interpol through a letter had asked the FIA about the expiry date of the arrest warrant. In response, we conveyed them that it will remain valid until the arrest of Musharraf,” said the public prosecutor.

The arrest warrant will remain effective till handing over of Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan or unless the trial court itself cancels it, he added.

Moreover, he said the Interpol has also been informed that the arrest warrant was issued by the court in the light of FIA’s challan in the case of suicide attack on Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi in 2007 and due to Pervez Musharraf’s continued absence from attending court proceedings.

The FIA had sent the arrest warrant of Pervez Musharraf to Interpol along with evidences, especially revelations by a foreign journalist and a copy of the former president’s email sent to Bhutto.