Return To Sender

"Mr. Ansari also professes his hatred of Canada and the United States."
"All of these things taken cumulatively, looked at together, do lead me to believe on a balance of probabilities that Mr. Ansari is in fact a danger to the public."
Jessica Lourenco, officer, Canada Border Services Agency

"We are the Muslims and we are coming for you."
"If I only had a plane" comment beside a photo of Toronto's Scotia tower.
CBSA files

Yet another fine specimen of Pakistan's version of terrorist jihad. An "active participating member" of a known terrorist organization in Pakistan, he had been recorded at a mosque in Toronto stating his hatred for Canada, that he had been tasked to return to Canada on a "military mission". This was the information released to a hearing on Friday by an immigration official.

Police seized an electronic device containing an audio file where he stated he was "sent back to Canada from Pakistan on a military mission he can't speak of", as they were arresting Mohammed Aqeeq Ansari. The 30-year-old Pakistani citizen who immigrated to Canada in 2007 had his case file outlined reflecting an investigation by the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcing Team.

There is nothing vague or speculative about this case, as is obvious from the investigative record. Under suspicion through an investigation named Project Seashell, presumably reflecting the vague sounds heard when an ear is pressed to a seashell, he was arrested on October 27 when Canada's federal police agencies went on the alert after the murders of Forces members in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec and Ottawa by Islamist extremists.

Immigration officials are in the stages of revoking his permanent residency status to deport him back to Pakistan. His involvement with the terrorist group Ahle-Sunnat Wal Jamaat in Pakistan is sufficient reason. He had created and maintained the group's media website, Ahnafmedia.com, and operated a PayPal account for them that took in contributions to benefit the militant group of Islamists.

His lawyer, Anser Farooq, while noting that police haven't charged his client with terrorism resulting from "strategic  considerations", would like to have him released from custody while the CBSA investigation continues. IRB representative Iris Kohler has denied that request, leading Mr. Farooq to question the wisdom of the proceedings.

"If he is what you say he is, you're going to send him abroad so he causes more problems?" What, then is the solution to protecting Canada from the violent intentions of a citizen of Pakistan charged by his jihadist group to return to Canada for the very purpose of committing violence here? A citizen of Pakistan he is, and as such to be returned to that country.

A country, by the way, listed third on a group of Arab and African countries deemed most likely to become involved in genocide, by a task force in Washington looking for ways to become more alert to impending genocides. A country, not coincidentally that is a source of many of the terrorists stalking the global community.