Pakistan-Canadian businessman Rahat Rao is fighting for his life at a hospital in Canada’s Surrey city after an assailant set him on fire.
The ill-fated incident occurred at the Pakistan-Canadian businessman’s office in the Surrey Central area.
According to reports, the attacker approached Rao under the pretext of a money exchange transaction, set him ablaze before fleeing the scene.
Rao, an active member of the Canadian-Pakistani community, was rushed to the hospital, where his condition remains critical. Contrary to claims circulating in Indian media, sources confirm that Rao is not an agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
He has been a prominent figure in Canadian politics and the Asian community. He has been particularly active in protests following the death of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June of last year.
Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, an event that led to significant diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.
The Indian government had previously listed Nijjar among 40 ‘designated terrorists,’ and his death has since fueled ongoing disputes, especially after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested potential involvement of Indian government agents in the killing.
