Dreaded underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai blasts, has reportedly been hospitalized in Karachi, Pakistan, following an alleged poisoning attempt. Despite the gravity of the situation, Pakistani authorities remain tight-lipped, and a senior journalist has claimed that internet services have been down in the country. Dawood's reported hospitalization is shrouded in secrecy and surrounded by heightened security.

Two days ago, unconfirmed reports surfaced that Dawood Ibrahim had been hospitalized in Karachi, where he is purportedly the sole occupant of an entire hospital floor. Reports on Monday suggested that Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, may have succumbed to poisoning in a Karachi hospital on Sunday. While sources claim his demise between 8 pm and 9 pm (IST), no official confirmation has been issued. Dawood, a most-wanted terrorist in India, has purportedly resided in Pakistan for years, a claim repeatedly denied by Islamabad.

Some users even posted screenshots of what appeared to be the account of Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar, which mentioned that Dawood had died. But the message turned out to be fake, with several fact-checkers clarifying that it was not the account of Mr. Kakar and there is no confirmation about Dawood.

The viral message said, "The Messiah of humanity, dear to every Pakistani heart, our beloved His Excellency Dawood Ibrahim passed away due to poisoning by unknown. He breathed his last in a hospital in Karachi. May Allah grant him the highest position in Jannat. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un."

But DFRAC, an independent fact-checking website, said in a post on X that the username in the viral screenshot doesn't match the official account of Mr. Kakar.

Senior Pakistan journalist Arzoo Kazmi said there has been a communication blackout, revealing that the internet and social media shutdown in Pakistan has made it challenging to verify the news. Kazmi also said there is no confirmation on who was behind the alleged poisoning and that there is no way to confirm whether Dawood Ibrahim is alive or dead.

However, some government insiders hint at a connection between the internet blackout and former Prime Minister Imran Khan's virtual rally, implying an effort to prevent potential unrest. The motives behind this drastic step remain speculative but may be tied to political events unfolding in the country.

Indian authorities have long maintained that Dawood Ibrahim resides in Karachi's upscale Clifton area, a claim consistently denied by Pakistan. Earlier this year, Ibrahim's nephew, Alishah Parkar, revealed to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the underworld don had remarried in Pakistan and was living with his family in Karachi.According to Parkar's statement, Dawood Ibrahim's second wife, Maizabin, and their children also live with him.

Governments of India and the United States declared Dawood Ibrahim a "global terrorist" in 2003. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has previously asserted that Ibrahim's D-Company maintains a special unit to terrorize India, targeting political leaders and businesspersons.

The 10th edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GIT) highlights the ongoing influence of Dawood Ibrahim and his criminal network, which includes drug trafficking, arms dealing, and counterfeiting. The report also states their global connections with terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.There have been several rumors surrounding Dawood’s health over the years, but the 67-year-old has evaded arrest for many decades since the blasts in Mumbai killed 250 and injured hundreds.