1984 Air India plane hijacker hopes to practise law in Canada

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Toronto: Parminder Singh Saini, a convicted Sikh terrorist who is fighting his deportation to India, has asked the Canadian law regulator to allow him practice saying he "deserves a second chance."

The mastermind of the 1984 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight to Lahore, who took refuge here 14 years ago and faces deportation to India, has now sought permission to practise law in Canada.

Parminder Singh Saini, now 46, was the ring leader of five Sikh youths who hijacked an Indian Airlines flight from Srinagar to New Delhi in 1984 and took it to Lahore.

The hijack drama ended after a 17-hour stand-off, with the hijackers surrendering to the Pakistani authorities.

After a trial in Pakistan, Saini was sentenced to death by a Lahore court. But the death sentence was commuted to life term. He had spent 10 years in jail when he was released and asked to leave Pakistan.

In 1995, Saini entered Canada illegally under the name Balbir Singh with a fake Afghan passport.

After his arrival here, he earned a B.A. degree and a law degree even as he fought his deportation order.

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1984 IA plane hijacker seeks nod to practise law in Canada - Rest of World - World - NEWS - The Times of India



With his immigration status still up in the air, a convicted Sikh terrorist will find out in the coming weeks whether he can practise law in Toronto.