|
As routines
go, there are few parallels of this in diplomacy or in bilateral relations.
Ever so often, India tells Pakistan to hand over its most wanted criminals
who are sheltered, clothed and fed in the plushest addresses of Karachi
and Rawalpindi. The Pakistani response is usually a studied silence; on
rare occasions, like during the SAARC summit last week, they bluntly tell
Delhi to just lay off.
President Pervez Musharraf has done it many times in the past; "Where
is the proof?" he asked each time. And he did it again-telling India
that the question of handing over any terrorist simply "does not
arise" because Delhi has not furnished the proof to warrant their
transfer to India. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee simply says no more proof
is needed and glibly sits back, hoping the mounting pressure from the
US will ultimately force the General to hand them over to India.
After the Mumbai blasts of March 12, 1993, India presented Pakistan
a list of six persons suspected to have masterminded the bloody strike.
The list included Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, the man accused of spearheading
the operation. During the Agra Summit, Home Minister L.K. Advani handed
to President Musharraf a list of 14 names. And last week, the Government
passed to Islamabad a list of 20 names-the list of India's Most Wanted,
protected by Islamabad. Here is a look at 15, their crimes and whereabouts.
|
Masood Azhar
|
Ayub Memon
|
Dawood Ibrahim
|
|
|
|
|
| LOCATION: Bakra Pir, Karachi,
and Bahawalpur. He was released from Delhi's Tihar Jail and flown
to Kandahar where he was released in exchange for the passengers on
IC 814. Floated the Jaish-e-Mohammed which has a 5,000-strong cadre.
WANTED FOR:
The blast in the Srinagar Assembly on October 1 and a suicide attack
on army barracks.
|
LOCATION: His last known address
is C-120, Karachi Development Scheme. He primarily helped brother
"Tiger" in his illegal activities and is said to be working
at a rice exporting firm in Karachi under an assumed name. On the
run since March 1993.
WANTED FOR: Over 10 cases, from the Mumbai bomb blasts to terrorist
activities and smuggling weapons.
|
LOCATION: Flits between Karachi and
Rawalpindi, resides at Clifton, Karachi. Runs business from Pakistan.
Main activities include arms supply, counterfeiting, drug running
and supporting terrorist movements. On the run since 1993.
WANTED FOR: Masterminding the Mumbai
blasts. Other cases ranging from murder to smuggling.
|
|
Syed Salauddin
|
Tiger Memon
|
Chhota Shakeel
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOCATION: Muzaffarabad, PoK. Yousuf
Shah-as he is officially called-heads the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, which
claims a cadre strength of 20,000. Indian officials feel he is likely
to step up activities by joining hands with the JeM and the LeT.
WANTED FOR: The numerous terrorist strikes that the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
has claimed responsibility for in the past few years.
|
LOCATION: Lives in Karachi Development
Scheme. Travels for business between Karachi and Dubai, which include
supplying arms, ammunition and explosives and smuggling. On the
run since March 1993 after the Mumbai blasts.
WANTED FOR: 15 cases relating to the Mumbai blasts and for smuggling
explosives and supporting terrorism.
|
LOCATION: Defence Housing Area, Karachi.
Has been Dawood's trusted lieutenant for a long while, and stays
in a sprawling house next to his. Is a top "espionage operative"
for the ISI. Fled Mumbai for Dubai. Now runs an extortion empire
from Karachi.
WANTED FOR: Several cases of extortion,
kidnapping, murder and coercion of businessmen and film stars.
|
|
Zahoor Mishti
|
Wadhavan Singh Babbar
|
Lakhbir Singh Rode
|
|
|
|
|
LOCATION:
Akhtar Colony, Near Defence Area, Karachi. His identity became known
when the Mumbai Police arrested four ISI operatives. All of them turned
out to be members of the Harkat-ul-Ansar which once outlawed by the
US government, rechristened itself as the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.
WANTED FOR: Interpol red corner alert No. A-562/6-2000 was issued
against him for crimes ranging from hijacking to kidnapping to murder.
|
LOCATION: Multan Road, Lahore. Chief
of the Babbar Khalsa, he is known to belong to the first generation
of Punjab terrorists. Was the main interface between the Punjab
militants and the ISI, which is still sheltering him in specially
earmarked bungalows in and around Lahore.
WANTED FOR: At least 14 cases of sedition, murder, conspiracy,
including the conspiracy to assassinate former Punjab chief minister
Beant Singh.
|
LOCATION: Lahore. Nephew of Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwale, he is a Canadian national who has been safely
ensconced in Pakistan since 1992. Was the ISI's point man for reviving
Sikh militancy. His International Sikh Youth Federation has fraternal
ties with the LTTE and Kashmiri militant outfits.
WANTED FOR: Bringing weapons into
Delhi to carry out attacks on certain VIPs and for fomenting communal
tension in Punjab.
|
|
This
British Asian DJ has created ripples in the Asian
Register Now 
CURRENT
ISSUE JAN 14, 2002
){kind=link}