Pakistani convicted of conspiring to aid Taliban

HOUSTON: A Pakistani college student living in Texas was convicted on Thursday of conspiring to help the Taliban and fight US troops.

A federal jury convicted Adnan Babar Mirza, 33, of two conspiracy counts and seven firearms violations after a three-day trial in Houston. He faces up to five years in prison on each conspiracy count and 10 years on the weapons counts when he is sentenced on September 10.

Mirza was one of four men arrested in 2006 for alleged participation in paramilitary training exercises at campsites around the Houston area so they could engage in a jihad.

Mirza’s attorney, David Adler, told jurors that Mirza went on camping trips but denied that they involved paramilitary training exercises. Prosecutor Jim McAlister told jurors that the activities of Mirza and the other three men came to attention after another of their friends decided that “things were getting out of hand” and became an FBI informant.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 29th, 2010.