Miandad throws a lavish party

Pakistan's former cricketer Javed Miandad held a glittering and grand reception to celebrate the wedding of his son Junaid with the daughter of India's most wanted man, Dawood Ibrahim, at a plush Karachi hotel on Thursday evening.

More than 1,200 people, including some top cricket stars, politicians, artistes and businessmen attended the reception held under tight security, which was unprecedented for such events.

However, top government officials stayed away from the reception to which Miandad had also invited President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Dawood, accused by New Delhi of masterminding a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai in the early 1990s, did not attend the ceremony, witnesses present at the reception said.

India accuses Pakistan of providing shelter to Dawood, who has also been placed on the United States' list of terror suspects. But Pakistan denies the charge.

Police, paramilitary rangers and private security guards had thrown a security ring around the posh Karachi hotel where the bride and groom arrived at around 11pm. The function lasted well after midnight.

The guests had to pass through two metal detectors to enter the reception premises where the use of mobile telephones was banned.

The guests were allowed inside the reception hall only after a thorough checking of their invitation cards. Miandad has brushed aside the media hype about his son's marriage to the daughter of a man accused of being a don of India's underworld.