A controversy erupted after the half-brother of David Headley – the Pakistani American terrorist jailed in the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks – came to India as part of the Pakistan delegation to attend former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral in Delhi last week, NDTV reported.
Danyal Gilani, Headley’s half-brother and a director in the office of Pakistan’s Law and Information Minister Syed Ali Zafar, was a part of the official delegation sent to India for Vajpayee’s funeral.
According to The Hindu, Gilani, however, was not seen at the funeral. The delegation also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Gilani did not attend the meet, but was present at the venue, the report added.
Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mehmood, Law Minister Syed Ali Zaffar, foreign ministry spokesperson and Director General of South Asia Mehmood Faizal met Swaraj, NDTV reported.
The Link Between Gilani and Headley
According to The Hindu, Gilani’s father Syed Salim Gilani, a famous Pakistani broadcaster fathered David Headley during his stint in the United States. He subsequently returned to Pakistan where he started a new family.
Government sources told NDTV that Gilani has publicly dissociated himself from Headley.
Due Procedure Followed for Gilani’s Visit: Govt Sources
Official sources told The Hindu that proper procedure was followed in allowing Gilani to come to India as a part of the delegation.
Gilani’s name was not in the blacklist of Pakistani citizens who are not allowed to visit India, the report said.
"Danyal Gilani was issued visa after checking the blacklist. He does not figure in our blacklist. There are no reports of his links to terrorism," a senior government official told NDTV.
Congress Questions the Move
The Congress on Sunday, 19 August, attacked the government over “allowing” Gilani to come to India.
Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal was quoted by The Hindu as saying, “How did the government allow Headley’s brother to come into India? They have to answer.”
(With inputs from NDTV and The Hindu)
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