Tale behind weddings of Dawood Ibrahim's children
The don's daughter Mahreen's marriage took place on February 4, 2011 while his son Moin married on September 25.
The recently held grand marriage of Dawood Ibrahim's son Moin at his mansion in Karachi's posh Clifton Road area came as a surprise as the underworld don himself hosted the who's who of Pakistan. Earlier this year, he had married his younger daughter Mahreen off, but the function was a comparatively low-key affair.
After reporting the marriage of Moin Ibrahim on September 25, which was confirmed by the don's younger brother Anees and close aide Chhota Shakeel, Headlines Today investigated further and dug out the details of Mahreen's marriage that took place on February 4, 2011.
Mahreen, 24, got married secretly to Ayub, a Pakistani-American. Sources said the reception was held a day later at the same house where the don hosted his son Moin's marriage last month. Sources told Headlines Today that the ceremony was a closed-door and low key affair, but was attended by the high and mighty in Pakistan army and the ISI.
Headlines Today also secured images of Mahreen and her elder sister Mahrukh, 26, who got married to former Pakistan cricket captain Javed Miandad's son Junaid six years ago. These exclusive pictures of the don's daughters were confirmed by matching them with the photographs uploaded by Junaid on his Facebook page.
Sources told Headlines Today that ever since Dawood suffered a heart attack in October 2010, he had been in a hurry to marry off the remaining two of his brood, Mahreen and Moin. Moin wed London girl Saniya, daughter of a businessman.
Mahrukh's marriage to Junaid in 2005 at Dubai's Grand Hyatt hotel was a much-publicised gala affair. In comparison, the celebrations were rather low key when Mahreen married Ayub, son of a US-based businessman. Mahreen's wedding was well-attended by the don's friends in the Pakistan army, the ISI top brass and businessmen. The reception was held at his Clifton Road residence.
Dawood has clearly become fearless, hosting lavish receptions and celebratory parties of late, including a grand reception for Moin's wedding. Several top ranking army and ISI officers attended the wedding. Yet Pakistan continues to officially claim it has no idea where Dawood lives.
On the other hand, India, with no clear strategy, continues to timidly send one dossier after the other. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said on Tuesday: "We expect Pakistan to get at Dawood, who is wanted in our country for various cases. Since he has now come out in public, it is necessary that Pak acts quickly and hand him over to us."
Sources said there has been a clear pattern in Dawood's matchmaking strategy for his children, which was noticeable in all three marriages. The Ibrahim-Miandad marriage fuelled reports of the don's black money investments and cricket match-fixing syndicate.
Moin's wife Saniya is the daughter of a big London businessman. Mahreen too is now the daughter-in-law of a rich businessman in the US. All these three alliances indicate a desperate attempt for legitimacy in the West.
Probably, the don used the weddings of his children as business deals, cementing relationships and strengthening his position in the hierarchy of terror in Pakistan. His every move enjoys the blessings of Pakistan's military leadership, which is a clear signal of the intentions of India's neighbour as far as handing over Dawood is concerned.