Canada to Strip Tahawwur Rana of Citizenship Ahead of Carney’s India Visit: Report

Toronto, Feb 24: The Canadian government has initiated proceedings to revoke the citizenship of Pakistan-born businessman Tahawwur Rana Hussain, ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming visit to India. Rana, 64, is accused of being closely linked to David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Rana, who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a citizen in 2001, was extradited from the United States to India in April 2025 and immediately arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). While not being stripped of citizenship for terrorism, Canadian authorities claim he misrepresented his residency history when applying for citizenship.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that Rana falsely claimed to have lived in Ottawa and Toronto for the previous four years, when in fact he spent most of that time in Chicago, managing properties and businesses including an immigration consultancy and a grocery store. The IRCC described the misrepresentation as a “serious and deliberate deception” that led to the erroneous granting of citizenship.

Rana’s case has been referred to the Federal Court, which will determine if citizenship was obtained through “false representation, fraud, or concealment of material facts.” Rana’s legal team has appealed, arguing that the revocation is unfair and violates his rights.

A hearing on the matter was held last week, with government lawyers seeking permission to withhold sensitive national security information. IRCC emphasized that revoking citizenship for misrepresentation is a critical tool to preserve the integrity of Canadian citizenship, noting that the Federal Court’s final ruling ensures fairness.

The case marks one of only a handful of citizenship revocations in Canada over the past decade, highlighting its rarity and significance.