Musharraf loses right to audience

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, April 10 (UPI) -- Judges in the Benazir Bhutto murder trial have denied former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf the right to be heard until he appears before court.

A three-judge bench of the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, denied Musharraf's right to an audience Monday.

"If the court declares you a fugitive, you are no longer entitled to discretionary treatment," Chaudhry said.

A formal request has been filed by Pakistan's interior ministry with Interpol to issue "red warrants" for Musharraf, calling for his immediate arrest and extradition, The Express Tribune reported.

Warrants for Musharraf's arrest have been outstanding since February in the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto.

However, Musharraf has been a fugitive for nearly a year, declared by the government a "proclaimed offender," or someone who refuses to cooperate in an investigation. Musharraf has been living in London in self-imposed exile since 2008, following his resignation.