Pak denies Dawood's presence

Pakistan on Saturday said fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim “is not present in the country,” a day after India asserted that its most-wanted terrorist was living in the neighbouring country.

“We have repeatedly informed Indian authorities that Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan,” said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam.

Asked if Dawood was ever present in Pakistan, she said: “This issue has been raised in the past, too. We have checked and have said he is not present here.”

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said, “As per our information, Dawood is in Pakistan.”

“When I went to the US last year to discuss inland security, I met the attorney general who looks after the FBI. I talked to him and we decided that we will pass whatever information we have on Dawood amongst each other. We decided we will make joint efforts,” Shinde had said when asked about the whereabouts of Dawood, who is wanted by Indian security agencies in a number of cases, including the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

Dawood, who heads a vast and multifaceted illegal business, has emerged as India’s most-wanted terrorist after the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which he allegedly organised and financed.An Interpol red corner notice is still pending against him.