Mumbai, cricket stars stay out of Dubai D-bash

Wrapped under a cloak of secrecy, attended by 250-odd guests, the much-hyped wedding of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s daughter Mahruk...

Wrapped under a cloak of secrecy, attended by 250-odd guests, the much-hyped wedding of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s daughter Mahrukh with former Pakistani Test cricketer Javed Miandad’s son Junaid was solemnised at a five-star hotel here.

Miandad, dressed in a formal black suit, and his wife, wearing a silver-coloured saree, attended the late-night ceremony yesterday. And Indian Intelligence sources said that Dawood—based in Karachi and wanted in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts—was on a yacht off the Dubai harbour after arriving on a Qatari visa.

The large contingent of reporters present were kept out of the venue, but at least two Indian journalists were allowed inside—they were barred from taking pictures.

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According to sources, Indian Intelligence agencies kept a close watch at the venue, keeping tabs on those who attended from India, especially Mumbai. A Dubai Police sniffer dog was also spotted standing by just before guests started to arrive.

However, it is believed that no big shots from either Bollywood or the cricket circuit were present at the lavish ceremony—the only exception was former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal, who was seen at the venue.

An expensive invitation card sent to guests and published in a local daily here read: ‘‘Mr and Mrs Dawood Hassan Shaikh Ibrahim request the pleasure of your company at the wedding ceremony of their beloved daughter Mahrukh with Junaid Miandad S/O Mr and Mrs Javed Miandad, Inshallah on Saturday, 23rd July 2005.’’

The card said: ‘‘Marriages are decided in heaven and will be celebrated on earth, Oh, Allah! guide this couple to the best of happiness, understanding and success.’’

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Though the arrival of the baraat was scheduled for 9.30 p.m. and the dinner at 10 p.m., the programmes were delayed by a few hours, sources said.

A lavish reception for the couple would be organised on August 4 in Karachi, where all the relatives, friends, well-wishers and high-profile figures will be invited, Miandad said.

Gulf News daily said the families were already in the hotel rooms and did not enter the wedding hall through the front door. It quoted a hotel official as saying that they had prepared a ‘‘lavish buffet’’ in a specially decorated hall.

‘‘We were asked to prepare a meal for 550 to 600 guests,’’ the official told the newspaper, but refused to divulge how much the ceremony cost.