(Clockwise from left) Pakistan Consulate General Janbaz Khan with Tariq Kiani (right) at Pakistan’s Independence Day function; the damaged shop; Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (News18/File)
Tariq Kiani was also seen with Pakistan Consulate General at Pakistan’s Independence Day function, said sources. Earlier, a chemical substance was hurled at Kiani’s close aide and another ISI agent in Canada Rahat Rao
Tariq Kiani, an alleged agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Canada who owns the Republic Plus TV, was attacked at his shop in Surrey, where he ran his printing business, said top intelligence sources. While the reason behind the attack is not known yet, it caused major damage to his property.
Kiani and his aide and ISI agent Rahat Rao are under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) scanner in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a wanted Khalistani terrorist. Recently, a chemical substance was hurled at Rao.
Kiani was also seen with Pakistan Consulate General at Pakistan’s Independence Day function, said sources.
Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18, 2023. He was the chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2020. Interpol had also issued red corner notice against him quite a few times, the first in 2016.
NIJJAR KILLED BY ISI?
Sources said, “Rao and Kiani are believed to be two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) plants in Canada. They are even handling the terrorists who are coming from India and are on the wanted list. They may have been have given the task of killing Nijjar.”
“Nijjar was becoming powerful with time and gaining popularity in local Canadian community. The motive could be business related, so that drug business could be directly controlled by Rahat Rao and Kiani,” sources said, adding, “Rao, Kiani and another Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun are possibly those who ordered the killing to control drug and immigration business, which is the main source of income for them.”
Sources also say proximity to Nijjar was impossible for any unknown person because he was very cautious. The ISI had many former ISI officials staying in this area — from the ranks of Major General to Hawaldar.
Nijjar’s proximity and affection to Pakistan-based leaders such as Wadhawa Singh Neeta was also a problem for the ISI. “Amid the crackdown in Punjab and killing of leaders, the plan was to restructure business. So Nijjar was made the first target.”
WHO IS RAHAT RAO?
Rao has a forex business in Surrey Central area. According to sources, a person came to Rao’s office for some alleged money exchange work and set him on fire and ran away. Rao belongs to the Canadian-Pakistani community. He also runs a hawala business and had organised a peaceful rally for Canada PM Justin Trudeau where the turnout was very low.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported that Rao was questioned in connection with the Nijjar murder case. According to sources, he was attacked due to tension between two different groups. Sources said the RCMP is quiet right now, but will soon make a statement.
On Saturday, the RCMP teams visited Rao’s office in Surrey. He was questioned for almost two hours about Nijjar. Sources say he was asked to delete every post from his social media pages. They have not disclosed the reason of their visit publicly, but this was possibly related to his knowledge about the killing of Nijjar, said sources.
CNN-News18 had carried a story on the suspicion over the ISI hand in the killing of Nijjar with the help of Rao and Kiani.
Read More: Tariq Kiani, Pakistani ISI’s Agent In Canada Under Scanner in Khalistani Nijjar Killing,
