Pak Foreign Office seeks clarification over India's wanted list

Islamabad, May 29 (ANI): The Pakistan Foreign Office has asked the Indian Government to give its clarification on errors in a list of 50 most wanted terrorists and criminals that New Delhi had asked Islamabad to hand over.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said: "In the context of looking at any such issue seriously, we have referred to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs the request seeking clarification about the exact status of the list."

India's Home Ministry and security agencies were earlier this month left embarassed when two men on the list of 50 most wanted fugitives were found to be in India.

The list, handed over to Pakistan earlier this year, included the names of five Pakistani army officers linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

In the third week of May this year, India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) admitted to goofing up on its "most wanted" list and withdrew the list from it"s website.

The investigating agency also removed the Red Corner Notice linked to the list.

"The entire list is being reviewed. We have no plan to recall the list from Pakistan," Secretary, Internal Security in the Home Ministry, U K Bansal, told reporters.

He also said that responsibility has been fixed and action is being taken.

Bansal also said the ministry would conduct an exercise to ensure that there is no such mistake in the future.

Earlier, CBI Director A P Singh has ordered a complete review of the Interpol wing. He also said that the most wanted list would be thoroughly scrutinised in consultation with state police and other agencies.

Feroz Rashid Khan named in India's most wanted list of terrorists allegedly hiding in Pakistan was found to be in Arthur Road Jail facing trial in the 1993 serial blasts case. Listed in the dossier as the criminal No 24 - Feroz - was shown as a wanted accused in the blasts case along with the absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim.

Earlier, the case of Wazhul Kamar Khan being in the list had also left the government red faced.

Khan, who was arrested last year for his alleged role in the 2003 Mulund train blasts, lives in Mumbai suburb Thane"s Waghle Estate with his mother, wife and children, after being let off on bail. (ANI)