NDTV
Jul 29: Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef is on his way back home after the Australian government's case against him collapsed.
A visibly relieved Haneef was pictured at the Bangkok airport giving a thumbs up to reporters.
Haneef did not leave the airport, but waited in a transit area for an onward flight to India.
The doctor will be joining his family in Bangalore on Sunday after spending nearly four weeks in custody in Australia.
Haneef had been had been charged with recklessly providing support to terrorists involved in the failed UK terror plot.
But despite the fact that the charges against him were dropped and Australia's Chief Prosecutor admitted to mistakes in the investigation, his visa has not been reinstated.
Haneef's lawyer is returning to India along with him and intends to challenge the decision in court.
They are also seeking a formal apology from the authorities in Australia.
Despite growing outrage in Australia and India, the Australian government has refused to accept responsibility for the botched case.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said that the government had nothing to do with the case. He said that the explanations should in fact be sought from the police and prosecution.
Keelty hits back
According to reports in the Australian media, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty has hit back at criticism over the handling of the failed terrorism case against Haneef, saying errors in the case were initially made by British investigators.
However, a local TV channel poll showed that over 68 per cent of Australians believed the Howard government mishandled the case.
Many are now asking why the Indian doctor was first detained under new anti-terror laws and then sent away so unceremoniously when he had been cleared of the charges.
Australian newspapers have also criticised the way the Haneef case has been handled by the authorities.
The Age has said, ''The disgraceful treatment of Mohamed Haneef has all the hallmarks of a typical Howard Government political play. Nasty, divisive, cynical and, of course, no involvement of the Prime Minister himself. When will Howard take responsibility?''
''Mohamed Haneef's character has been trashed by a government prepared to do anything to cling onto power. Yet despite the collapse of the case, no one in the government has the decency to apologise or even admit that Haneef has been treated unfairly.''
''Nothing is more important to Australia's security than public confidence in the government's ability to make the right laws, and the ability of the police and the justice system to enforce them. That confidence has been sorely tested by the conduct of the case against Haneef,'' said the Sydney Morning Herald.
Meanwhile, dismissing reports of Dr Haneef being deported, his lawyer Peter Russo clarified that coming home was his client's decision.
''He is not being deported. It was a voluntary choice on his part to be united with his wife and child,'' maintained Russo.
Moh'd Haneef to Leave Australia for Home on July 28 Night
PTI
Melbourne, Jul 28: Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef's almost four week-long ordeal neared its end on Saturday with the Australian government giving him the green light to leave the country after clearing him off terror charges but refused to reinstate his work visa.
Haneef will fly out of Australia on Saturday night. His Lawyer Peter Russo will fly to India with him but said the fight to have Haneef's Australian work visa would continue.
The Gold Coast-based doctor was released from a Brisbane jail on Friday after a charge against him of providing support to a terrorist organisation was dropped.
Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews, who cancelled Haneef's work visa on July 16 when a Brisbane magistrate granted the doctor bail, said the visa remained cancelled.
He said Haneef's lawyers had contacted the Immigration Department asking if the doctor could leave Australia as soon as possible.
"After taking advice, including from the Australian Federal Police, I have indicated that the Commonwealth has no objection to Dr Haneef leaving Australia. Indeed the effect of the visa cancellation is that he should remove himself, he should depart Australia in any event," he said.
Andrews said Haneef's Indian passport would be given back to him, although his visa remained cancelled.
Haneef's lawyer said the Indian doctor had vowed to keep fighting to have his Australian immigration work visa reinstated.
His lawyer Russo said Haneef wanted to thank Australians who had supported him throughout his detention and added that the doctor's legal team was disappointed their client was prevented from publicly thanking Australians who supported him through his detention.
Haneef moved to undisclosed unit in Brisbane
PTI
Melbourne: Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who is believed to have been moved to an undisclosed unit owned by the Australian Immigration Department in Brisbane after being cleared off terror charges, spent his first night of freedom watching news and eating dinner with his lawyer and cousin.
Haneef was moved under tight security from Wolston Correctional Centre, where he was held in isolation, to an Immigration Department owned unit in Brisbane's last night after the terror-related charge against him was dropped.
Haneef celebrated his freedom with lawyer Peter Russo and his wife's cousin Imran Siddiqui, Russo's wife Terri said.
Terri said her husband and Siddiqui spent time with Haneef watching news and having some decent food.
The Immigration Department has gone to great lengths to keep the doctor's whereabouts a secret after his release from jail.
Haneef's lawyers said that the terms of the order mean they cannot say where he will be living, but it will be in Brisbane, media reports said.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have, meanwhile, returned property and documents to Haneef after the terrorism-related charge against him was dropped.
The documents and property was taken from Haneef's Gold Coast unit by the AFP, and were returned to him by the Department of Immigration.
Russo said it will take a long time to go through every scrap of paper to make sure nothing is missing.
Terry Russo said she understood the doctor would spend a large part of today going through his property.
'Political interference in Haneef's case'
PTI
Melbourne: Civil libertarians in Australia on Saturday said any inquiry into the bungled prosecution of Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was cleared off terrorism charges, should focus squarely on the actions of the Attorney General and the Immigration Minister.
The terrorism-related charge against Haneef was dropped on Friday after prosecutors abandoned their case amid revelations of mistakes in the case against him.
Australian Council for Civil Liberties national secretary Cameron Murphy said it was clear there was political interference in the case.
"Clearly there were three facts put out to the media in this matter that appear to be plainly wrong. First, that Haneef's SIM card was used in the UK bombing. Secondly, that he had the names of known terrorists in his diary. And thirdly, that he was plotting to blow up some Gold Coast building," he was quoted as saying by ABC news.
"I think we are entitled to know if any of these incorrect facts originated from ministers' offices, or if there's [been] any pressure exerted from the Attorney-General or another minister, or their offices, in relation to this
investigation.
"I think it's all too easy to scapegoat the Australian Federal Police Commissioner and the Commonwealth DPP, when clearly ministers have been driving the commentary and the speculation over this case from the very beginning," he said.
Pranab expresses happiness over Haneef's release
PTI
Thimpu: Australian authorities' action to drop charges against Indian doctor, Mohammed Haneef, proved that he was not involved in terrorist activities, External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said here today.
Expressing happiness over Haneef getting relief after being in detention for nearly four weeks in connection with the failed terror plot in UK, Mukherjee hoped that Australia will restore Haneef's work visa and allow him to transact normal business.
The visa was revoked by Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews, shortly after Haneef was granted bail by a Brisbane court nearly two weeks after he was detained on July 2.
"I am glad that charges against Haneef have been dropped. It proves that he is not involved with the terrorist activities," Mukherjee said.
"Now we hope that the Australian authorities will restore his visa, allow him to transact normal business and be taken back in his hospital department," he added.
27-year-old Haneef was working as a Registrar in a Gold Coast hospital in Queensland. "The development is good for all concerned," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee, who had spoken to Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, when Haneef was in detention, said any government was well within its right to prosecute anyone if charges are proved, but no person should suffer if he or she is innocent.
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