MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Monday dared the BJP-led NDA Government to carry out an operation-- similar to the US Navy SEALs’ ‘Operation Geronimo, that eliminated al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden-- to apprehend fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, who lives in Pakistan.
“Dreaded terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Dawood are living in Pakistan comfortably and are under political care. We don’t need proof to prove that. No other country, except Pakistan, can provide shelter to such people. For several years now, we have been requesting the Pakistan government to hand over these fugitive gangsters, but they refuse to even acknowledge their presence on its territory. Can the Indian government show the same audacity towards Dawood, the way the US did with bin Laden?,” asked an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna.
“Our government says it is keeping a watch on their activities. What purpose would it serve? These terrorists have kept their eye on India as well. This watching game has been happening for many years and will continue in the future,” it added.
‘Approach UN’
Ujjwal Nikam, the prosecutor who led the trial in the 26/11 case, on Monday said India should represent to the UN against a Pakistani court suspending the government’s order detaining Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a key planner of the terror attacks. “India should make a firm representation to the UNO and the Security Council (against the court order),” he said reacting to the Islamabad High Court order that might see the mastermind of the terror assault walk free, if not detained in another case.
“The Pakistanis are playing drama with us. I am constrained to say this as Lakhvi was bound to challenge the decision claiming he was granted bail on merit and he is not able to get the benefit of bail,” he said.
Islamabad High Court Judge Noorul Haq Qureshi on Monday suspended Lakhvi’s detention under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) after hearing his lawyer’s arguments.