Accused terrorist seeks Pakistan’s help in release
Man accused of plotting to bomb U.S. consulate, other Toronto buildings
Aman accused of wanting to blow up the U.S. Consulate and other downtown Toronto buildings is asking the Pakistani government for assistance getting out of detention pending his inadmissibility hearing to remain in Canada.
The request came in the form of a March 19 letter sent to the Pakistani Consulate in Vaughan by the lawyer for Jahanzeb Malik, 33.
“As a Pakistani national, Mr. Malik has asked us to reach out and secure any assistance you may be in a position to advance,” wrote Anser Farooq. “This assistance can be in the form of financial, and/or bonds person’s required to secure his release from detention pending the inadmissibility hearing, and/or securing safe passage and resettlement of Mr. Malik to Pakistan.” A spokeswoman for the High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa told the Star that the consulate is still reviewing the letter.
“They have still not come to a decision,” said Nazia Khalid. “They might ask for consulate access to be able to speak to the gentleman.”
Farooq’s letter goes on to say that the outcome of Malik’s inadmissibility hearing “should be of the highest priority to your government.”
Malik, a Pakistani-born permanent resident, has been kept at a Lindsay, Ont., jail since March 9 following a Canada Border Services Agency in- vestigation.
He was ordered to remain in custody by Immigration and Refugee Board member Iris Kohler on March 16. His next detention review hearing is on Tuesday.
None of the allegations against Malik has been proven in court. Farooq has said that Malik, a 33-year-old father, will be contesting his inadmissibility to remain in the country. He is demanding that the government try his client in a courtroom.
The government alleges Malik was befriended by an undercover RCMP police officer, who Malik attempted to radicalize by showing him videos purported to display Islamic State beheadings.
Malik told the undercover officer about the plan to build remote controlled bombs to blow up the consulate and other Toronto buildings, according to CBSA, and planned to record the explosions on video to encourage others to do the same.
Kohler said last month she was given no reasons to end Malik’s detention pending his inadmissibility hearing.
“You, on a balance of probabilities, pose a flight risk, a danger to the public, and should be detained for security reasons while the minister continues their investigation into their concerns of inadmissibility on security concerns,” she said.