Twarit Mukhya: On Vajpayee's funeral, Pakistan sends Mumbai attack plotter David Headley's half-brother among delegates

Pakistan government’s selection of representatives sent to India during the funeral of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has outraged India again.

Pakistan sent Mumbai attack plotter David Headley’s half-brother  Danyal Gilani among other delegates to attend the last rites of the former Indian PM.

In what is being speculated to be an intentional move, Pakistan government sent a team of delegates to attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under caretaker law and information minister Ali Zafar and foreign office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal on August 17. The delegation included Danyal Gilani , the half-brother of terror-convict David Headley who was the plotter of 26/11 Mumbai attack.

Reacting to the news, Congress said that the government must have had information about Gilani's visit to India.

Although, Danyal Gilani, has on occasions clarified that he has no contacts with his half-brother Dawood Gilani alias David Headley. They had last met at their father Syed Salim Gilani’s funeral in December 2008.

Gilani has had clarified that he had no information about Headley’s terror links. At the time of Mumbai attacks  Gilani was Public Relation Officer in the office of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Two years ago, during a hearing, Headley had disclosed that Pakistan’s then PM had visited their place to express grief over the death of their father after the 26/11 attacks.

Danyal Gilani is the chairman of Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censors and is among those who decided against Indian films’ release in Pakistan. Gilani was present with information minister Syed Ali Zafar when he met Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj to condole the death of Vajpayee on the behalf of Pakistan government and people. However it has not yet been confirmed whether Headley was present at Smriti Sthal during the last rites.