Pervez Musharraf joining Dawood Ibrahim fan club?

New Delhi, Nov 17: Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf always grabs media headlines for his fiery rhetoric and this time he has stirred a hornets nest by claiming that dreaded underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was highly revered in Pakistan. He, however denied to comment on Dawood's presence in Pakistan.

Speaking to the television channel, NDTV, Musharraf commented that Dawood's extraditions will be complicated since he is held in high esteem in Pakistan. He added, "They think that he (Dawood) 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."

On being asked if the response to the riots needs to be through bombs and terror, Musharraf commented, "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."

With Musharraf remaining unclear if India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim was in Pakistan or not, the idea was broached when senior BJP leader LK Advani wrote in his blog, "...You would be making a great contribution to the peace process if you handed over to India Dawood Ibrahim."

Advani even went to the extent of quoting Musharraf's words in his blog that said, "Mr. Advani, let me tell you emphatically that Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan."

Pakistan has time and again denied that Dawood lives in Pakistan. India, in spite of diplomatic talks with its neighbour, has not been able to extradite the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai blasts, Dawood Ibrahim. There are enough evidence to suggest that Dawood lives in a grand mansion in Karachi.

OneIndia News