Click to Expand & PlayLondon: Is Dawood Ibrahim hiding in Pakistan? The country's former President Pervez Musharraf says he cannot confirm whether or not India's most wanted man is in Karachi, but says Dawood is held in high esteem by many in Pakistan.
General Musharraf, who was Pakistan's President for nine years, has told NDTV in an exclusive interview that in Pakistan many people think that Dawood "did a very good job...Because in Gujarat they killed 3,000 Muslims and therefore Dawood Ibrahim reacted. So he is held in high esteem. This is what happens in Pakistan."
As India and Pakistan enter a relatively improved phase in their equation, the issue of Dawood Ibrahim seeking shelter in Pakistan remains one of the serious sticking points between the two countries. India has accused Pakistan of sheltering the underworld don, who is seen as the mastermind of the 1993 serial Mumbai blasts. Pakistani officials and politicians have always denied Dawood's presence in Pakistan, and this is the first time that someone has said "I don't know" instead of "no".
Pervez Musharraf also says that if Dawood is indeed in Karachi, then his extradition will be a complicated affair. Here is what General Musharraf told NDTV's Barkha Dutt on Dawood Ibrahim:
Barkha Dutt: ...Dawood Ibrahim. LK Advani wrote in a blog that when he met you in Agra he brought up this issue and you got very angry and you said that "These are small things and they are not true." But do you understand General Musharraf the symbolism of what Dawood Ibrahim means to India? And it's widely been believed for so many years that Dawood Ibrahim has a house in Karachi. That the address is known to everybody. There's a Javed Miandad who has married into that family.
Musharraf: Ok, now you are talking about what the Indian perceptions are. But do you know what Pakistanis think of Dawood Ibrahim?
Barkha Dutt: What do they think?
Musharraf: They think that he did a very good job... Because Indians killed 3,000 Gujaratis. In Gujarat they killed 3,000 Muslims. Therefore Dawood Ibrahim reacted. So he is held in high esteem. This is what happens in Pakistan.
Barkha Dutt: But sir, should reaction be through violence and bomb blasts and terrorism?
Musharraf: Yes, it must not be. It must not be, no. I won't agree. I agree with you. It should not be. But things are not as simple. That is what I am trying to say. I think things are very complicated. They are not simple.
Barkha Dutt: But do you accept that Dawood Ibrahim is hidden in Pakistan?
Musharraf: I don't know. I don't know. I wouldn't be able to confirm that. I don't know it.
General Musharraf, who was Pakistan's President for nine years, has told NDTV in an exclusive interview that in Pakistan many people think that Dawood "did a very good job...Because in Gujarat they killed 3,000 Muslims and therefore Dawood Ibrahim reacted. So he is held in high esteem. This is what happens in Pakistan."
As India and Pakistan enter a relatively improved phase in their equation, the issue of Dawood Ibrahim seeking shelter in Pakistan remains one of the serious sticking points between the two countries. India has accused Pakistan of sheltering the underworld don, who is seen as the mastermind of the 1993 serial Mumbai blasts. Pakistani officials and politicians have always denied Dawood's presence in Pakistan, and this is the first time that someone has said "I don't know" instead of "no".
Pervez Musharraf also says that if Dawood is indeed in Karachi, then his extradition will be a complicated affair. Here is what General Musharraf told NDTV's Barkha Dutt on Dawood Ibrahim:
Barkha Dutt: ...Dawood Ibrahim. LK Advani wrote in a blog that when he met you in Agra he brought up this issue and you got very angry and you said that "These are small things and they are not true." But do you understand General Musharraf the symbolism of what Dawood Ibrahim means to India? And it's widely been believed for so many years that Dawood Ibrahim has a house in Karachi. That the address is known to everybody. There's a Javed Miandad who has married into that family.
Musharraf: Ok, now you are talking about what the Indian perceptions are. But do you know what Pakistanis think of Dawood Ibrahim?
Barkha Dutt: What do they think?
Musharraf: They think that he did a very good job... Because Indians killed 3,000 Gujaratis. In Gujarat they killed 3,000 Muslims. Therefore Dawood Ibrahim reacted. So he is held in high esteem. This is what happens in Pakistan.
Barkha Dutt: But sir, should reaction be through violence and bomb blasts and terrorism?
Musharraf: Yes, it must not be. It must not be, no. I won't agree. I agree with you. It should not be. But things are not as simple. That is what I am trying to say. I think things are very complicated. They are not simple.
Barkha Dutt: But do you accept that Dawood Ibrahim is hidden in Pakistan?
Musharraf: I don't know. I don't know. I wouldn't be able to confirm that. I don't know it.
No comments:
Post a Comment