A non-bailable warrant of the arrest for Musharraf was issued on Feb. 12 and reissued a week later. The court issued the warrant for the third time after police had requested the court for an extension to execute the order.

Police requested the court for a month more time to implement the court order but the judge gave only two weeks, Malik Mohammad Rafique, one of the defense lawyers, told AFP.

Musharraf, living in London, has been declared an offender by the same court twice before this. He is thought to be a key witness and an enabler of the plot to kill Benazir.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), meanwhile, has submitted a formal request with Interpol to secure the extradition of Musharraf from the UK. Earlier, the government had said that it would get Musharraf extradited for his alleged connection to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Arab News has learned from well-placed diplomatic sources that the British government has refused to extradite Musharraf.

Musharraf is alleged to have been part of a ‘broad conspiracy’ to have his political rival killed before elections, though the exact nature of the charges against him is not clear.

In another development, Rawalpindi’s District and Sessions Court Saturday began hearing in a criminal case against federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, who has been charged with dacoity and extortion.

Awan, a member of President Asif Ali Zardari’s kitchen Cabinet, appeared in court, and later termed the case as political victimization while denying the charges against him. Awan was named in a case of dacoity in New Town police station of Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi Civil Judge Mehr Sarfaraz Hussain is hearing the case.

Awan has already been awarded bail. Sheikh Iftikhar Adil, owner of an Urdu daily, had lodged the complaint against Awan, claiming the minister had snatched his briefcase, with the help of two armed men. He claimed the briefcase contained Rs. 18,000 and important documents.

Also on Saturday, a two-member US legal team arrived in Islamabad to assist detained CIA Contractor Raymond Davis, US Embassy Spokesman Alberto Rodriguez said. He said two representatives of the US Justice Department arrived in Pakistan to assist in the case. Alberto said the legal team will visit Lahore and discuss Raymond Davis issue with concerned officials.

He told reporters they “are working with the government of Pakistan to resolve the issue of Davis’ diplomatic immunity.”

The Lahore High Court will decide on Davis’ immunity status on March 14.

Earlier Davis’ lawyer Zahid Bukhari said that payment of “blood money” to the heirs of the two men killed by the CIA contractor was the best option available for the US government.

Alberto did not comment on this issue. But the relatives of the two victims and a third man killed by an American vehicle rushing to the scene said this week they were not interested in receiving money from the United States. They also said US officials had not contacted them in any capacity.