India wants its ‘Osama’ back

Written on December 9th, 2008 in Guest writers Comments Off

Published on Asia Times, by Raja Murthy , Dec. 9, 2008.

MUMBAI – Dawood Ibrahim, one of Asia’s most notorious mafia dons and India’s version of Osama bin Laden, is emerging as a key suspect in the funding and logistical support for the November 26 terrorist strike on Mumbai.

Ibrahim, who tops the Mumbai police list of its 44 most wanted criminals, is among 20 fugitives India has asked Pakistan to extradite following the multiple attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 200 …

… Karachi-based newspaper Newsline reported in a September 2001 cover story titled “Karachi’s Gang Wars” that two rival underworld gangs in the city were both working for Ibrahim.

“After the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, Dawood Ibrahim and his team have made Karachi their new home and base of operations,” the Karachi Newsline report said. “Living under fake names and IDs, and provided protection by government agencies, they have built up their underworld empire in Karachi employing local talent like Shoaib and Bholoo.”

But Pakistan leaders, including current President Asif Zardari, have for years dismissed Ibrahim’s presence in Pakistan. Zardari even termed Dawood “a phantom created by India”.

Even so, a US Office of Foreign Assets Control statement from June 1, 2006 listed at least four addresses for Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi, Pakistan:

  • 617 CP Berar Society, Block 7-8, Karachi
  • House No. 37, Street 30, Phase V, Defense Housing Authority, Karachi
  • House No. 10, Hill Top Arcade, Defense Housing Authority, Karachi
  • Moin Palace, 2nd Floor, Opp Abdullah Shah Gazi Dargah, Clifton, Karachi

The Foreign Assets Control list also included Ibrahim’s Dubai address: White House, Al-Wassal Road, Jumeira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates … (full long text).

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