LONDON. The British government is disinclined to entertain a request from Islamabad to extradite former Pakistani dictator, General Pervez Musharraf, a "wanted fugitive" in his country in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.
The UK Home Office said on Friday, "There are no general extradition arrangements between the UK and Pakistan." In absence of such a pact, a spokesman said the two countries can enter into a special protocol, but this would "involve negotiating effectively a 'mini-treaty' for the extradition of one individual". This is almost unheard of.
The home office did not confirm or deny the extradition request, although the Pakistani high commissioner claimed such a note was handed over to UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
The British reaction followed a Pakistani anti-terrorism court issuing an arrest warrant for Musharraf for failing to provide adequate security to Bhutto, who was murdered in 2008. She was twice prime minister of Pakistan ˆ 1988-90 and 1993-96. Musharraf's spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said, "There is no basis for the case. This is a politically motivated court ruling and won't comply."
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