A British Columbia climate activist is set for deportation to Pakistan without intervention from the immigration minister
Vancouver: A climate activist in British Columbia is getting ready to leave Canada. Zain Haq plans to head to the Vancouver airport soon, expecting to be deported back to Pakistan. He feels it’s a done deal unless the immigration minister steps in.
Zain, who came to Canada on a student visa, is supposed to catch a flight to Toronto before being sent back to Pakistan on Sunday. It’s a tough situation for him and his wife, Sophia Papp. They woke up feeling shocked about the possibility of being forced out of the country due to a mix-up with his permanent residency application.
He co-founded the activist group Save Old Growth while studying here. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to some charges related to environmental protests that blocked roads. He did get a temporary permit to stay last April, but his request to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds was turned down, even though his actions were non-violent and he poses no threat to anyone.
Despite the grim outlook, Zain and Sophia are still hoping that Immigration Minister Marc Miller will step in and stop the deportation. It’s a tough spot for them, and they’re just trying to hold on to some hope.
