Pakistan denies Dawood Ibrahim's presence in Karachi, India says Pak 'hoodwinking' world community

India dismissed Pakistan's claims of cracking down on terrorists and terror groups as "hoodwinking" the international community and accused it of maintaining "double standards".

Dawood Ibrahim (Source: PTI)

New Delhi: Pakistan Foreign office denied the presence of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in the country, a day after a UK court was informed that the gangster is currently in exile in the country.

India dismissed Pakistan's claims of cracking down on terrorists and terror groups as "hoodwinking" the international community and accused it of maintaining "double standards".

During the ongoing extradition trial of 51-year-old Jabir Moti, a "high-ranking member of D-Company", Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Wednesday heard that Dawood, wanted for coordinated bombings in Mumbai in 1993 that killed more than 200 people, is currently in exile in Pakistan. "Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan," Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said in response to a question during his weekly press conference . Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesn Kumar, said during his weekly conferences: "The location of Dawood Ibrahim is not a secret. Time and again for the last several years India has presented to Pakistan a list of people who are there, and we have asked repeatedly that he be handed over. He (Dawood) is a UN-proscribed terrorist whose imprint on the Mumbai attacks is very clear. His linkages are in Pakistan, which is very clear.” Kumar said Pakistan is "trying to convince the international community on steps they claim they have taken on terrorists and terror groups operating on their soil". But when it comes to taking action against those terrorists that India has demanded, Islamabad goes into a "denial mode" and denies they exist and their presence in their country, he said. "Basically it is a case of double standards and Pakistan stands completely exposed on its stand on taking action on terrorist groups," Kumar said. According to reports, the US has requested the UK for the extradition of Dawood's henchman Jabir Motiwala, a Pakistani national, who was arrested by Scotland Yard's Extradition Unit in August last year. Motiwala has been charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with money laundering, extortion and conspiracy to import unlawful substances such as heroin. (with inputs from agencies)