Pak Declines to Hand 42 Fugitives to India; Claims Absence of Dawood, Shakeel

Pakistan has declined to hand over 42 fugitives, including Dawood Ibrahim, to India which it has since long been demanding, said External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in Rajya Sabha.

Responding to queries, Krishna said that a list comprising of names of 42 fugitives both Indian and Pakistani nationals, including those wanted in the 1993 serial bomb blasts and the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, has been handed to Islamabad.

About evidence and dossier given to arrest them, he said that Pakistan has been constantly saying that it is not enough and cannot be proved in court of law.

The minister said that Islamabad has denied presence of dreaded criminals like Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon, Chota Shakeel and Lakhbir Singh who are among the Indian nationals in the list.

“For Pakistani nationals, Pakistan has pointed to lack of extradition treaty and lack of evidence,” he said. “We have made 11 futile attempts with Pakistan to conclude an extradition treaty,” he said.

Pakistan has not responded “positively to our proposals to conclude an extradition treaty,” he said.

“We have been impressing upon Pakistan that it is in the interest of both countries that we enter into a treaty of extradition,” Krishna said. “Government is endeavouring to persuade Pakistan to develop a cooperative relationship with India.”

Krishna said India will continue to improve relations with Pakistan despite Islamabad’s reluctance.

“In spite of Pakistan’s reluctance to help us to improve our relations, India’s endeavour will be to continue to impress upon Pakistan that we have to have good neighbourly relations,” he said.

“Our hope is that Pakistan will see sense in such kind of approach,” he added.