Pakistan should no more be in denial about Dawood Ibrahim: Ujjwal Nikam

With the United Nations virtually endorsing India's stand that Dawood Ibrahim is based in Pakistan, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Thursday said that Islamabad should no more be in a denial mode about the whereabouts of the underworld don, adding the next step initiated by the United States in this regard will be of crucial.

Nikam said the UN panel's report on Dawood, mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, clearly states that India's claims were not hollow.

"And that is why I say that it is not the responsibility of India alone to catch Dawood Ibrahim, but instead it is the responsibility of the entire world," he added.

Nikam pointed out that when the American Government declares those indulging in acts of terrorism as an international terrorist or a global terrorist then it means that he is dangerous not only for one nation, adding Dawood was declared a global terrorist because of his links in the entire world.

"In 2003, the American Government declared Dawood Ibrahim as a global terrorist because Dawood played a major role in the terrorist activities in many European countries, courtesy his close relationship with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. The American Government found this out following a thorough investigation and that is why they declared him a terrorist," said Nikam.

"Now, the question is when the United Nations panel confirms that Dawood Ibrahim has five or six residences in Pakistan, this clearly states that now the United Nations will give confirmation and our claims were not hollow. And that is why I say that it is not the responsibility of India alone to catch Dawood Ibrahim, but instead it is the responsibility of the entire world," he added.

Responding to a poser as to on what grounds Dawood should be handed over to India with immediate effect, Nikam said, "We have produced evidence in the court with regard to the 1993 Mumbai blasts and I can state with conviction that the conspiracy was hatched by Dawood Ibrahim."

"Through his channel of smuggling, Dawood Ibrahim had sent RDX to Mumbai and due to which 300 innocent people were killed," he added while asking Pakistan not to be in a denial mode anymore.

Six of the nine addresses of Dawood in Pakistan, provided by India, have got an indirect confirmation from the UN. The world body has removed three from the list as those were found to be incorrect.

India, in a dossier, had cited these nine addresses as those frequented by Dawood.