US Sentences Pakistani Man to 50 Months for Supporting Taliban

Posted January 5th, 2012 at 9:05 pm (UTC-5)
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A U.S. court in Washington, DC Thursday sentenced a Pakistani man to 50 months in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, often referred to as the Pakistani Taliban.

Irfan Ul Haq was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Bates, who last month sentenced two co-defendants — Qasim Ali and Zahid Yousaf — on the same charge to 40 and 36 months in prison respectively.

On September 12, 2011, each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the TTP — a designated terrorist organization. As part of their plea deal, the three agreed to a stipulated order of returning to Pakistan upon the completion of their criminal sentences.

Ul Haq, Ali and Yousaf were arrested in Miami on March 13, 2011. They admitted that between January 3 and March 10, 2011, they conspired to provide false documentation and identification to the TTP, knowing that the group engaged in terrorism.

According to court documents, law enforcement agents directed confidential sources to ask the defendants, who were residing in Ecuador at the time, for their assistance in smuggling an individual they believed to be a Pakistani Taliban member into the United States.

Ul Haq allegedly said “it was not their concern what this person wanted to do in the U.S. — sweep floors or blow something up.” The defendants accepted payment from the confidential sources for the operation and procured a false Pakistani passport for the individual.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco said “the case underscores our continuing commitment to dismantle networks that facilitate terrorist travel.”

John Morton, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said his agents “will continue to use every available resource to protect the American public from terrorist organizations and individuals who support them.”