CBC News 

The case involving Laibar Singh took a confusing twist Tuesday when a South Asian community committee announced the paralyzed refugee claimant had fired his lawyer and is prepared to return home to India.

The statement was immediately refuted by Singh's lawyer Zoolfikar Suleman, who said he continues to act for the 48-year-old Indian man, who remains in sanctuary in a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C. Suleman said Singh wants to remain there.

"I'm absolutely certain that I'm his lawyer,'' Suleman said. "I get instructions from him and I act on his behalf."

Suleman said Singh wants to remain in Canada until a pending application to remain in this country on humanitarian grounds is heard.

"We are constantly in dealings with the [Canadian Border Services Agency] regarding this situation,'' he said.

Suleman's comments came just hours after a committee, which claims to represent 21 groups in the South Asian community, said it's time for Singh to go home to India.