Ruminations

Pakistani Jihadist Deportees

"We anticipate Mr. Ansari's removal will be effected in the near future."
"We do expect that it will be within the next month, but I can't get any more specific than that right now."
Naureen Ismail, officer, Canada Border Services Agency

"[Muhammad Aqeeq Ansari refused to acknowledge the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan had] murdered thousands of people in Pakistan for not sharing their religious views [that it was] a reflection of either wilful blindness or a shared mentality that it is permissible to eliminate anyone who does not share your faith perspective."
"It could have been acceptable that the reason he spent $20,000 purchasing guns and ammunition was the result of the financial irresponsibility of youth and the novelty of having hundreds of thousands of dollars at his disposal."
"The fact, however that he amassed $20,000 in guns and ammunition over such a short period raises questions and concerns, that remain plausibly unanswered, regarding his motives and whether there was an underlying plan given that he also spent a fair amount of time at the gun range practising his shot."
Immigration and Refugee Board

Muhammad Aqeeq Ansari has lived in Canada since 2007 when he arrived on a student visa. But he is now destined to be removed and returned to Pakistan when travel arrangements are finalized. CBSA officers will escort the man back to Pakistan. Mr. Ansari has waived his right to an assessment of the risks he could face on returning to his native country; he has previously insisted that he wishes to return.

A very nice match for Canada's wish to expel him. Immigration and Refugee Board member Karina Henrique has ordered that Mr Ansari, considered a potential flight risk as someone suspected of plotting harm in Canada, remain in detention, his release being "out of the question". His permanent residency status was removed, and he was ordered deported last month after a ruling that he was a member of the terrorist group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.

Aside from stockpiling firearms in his brother's basement in Peterborough, Ontario, he had made trips to Pakistan to visit with a cleric who fought "jihad" in Afghanistan. His Internet ramblings about his fundamentalist beliefs also marked him as someone Canada would best be rid of. He was found to be linked to the Pakistan terrorist group by association with a Pakistani Deobandi cleric, formerly a jihadist fighter.

It is known by Canadian intelligence authorities that he was involved with the terrorist jihadi group before his arrival in Canada, and while in Canada had solicited funds for them while promoting the group's goals online. One down, another yet to go. Jahanzeb Malik, arrested in Toronto in March is still awaiting a decision whether to be deported as a threat to Canadian security.

In May an undercover officer with the RCMP testified that Mr. Malik had planned to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State but decided to conduct a terrorist attack in Toronto instead, since he feared he would be detained while attempting to leave the country for his Syrian destination.