Haneef's family welcome Australia ruling

BANGALORE: The family of Dr Mohammed Haneef who had been charged in Australia over failed car bombings in Britain welcomed Tuesday's Brisbane court decision to reinstate his work visa.

But Dr Mohammed Haneef's relatives added that any celebrations would be kept on hold until Australian authorities decide whether to appeal the ruling.

"Haneef is happy and so is the entire family," said Imran Siddiqui, a cousin of the doctor's wife who said he had been nominated to speak on behalf of the family. "We are very gratified by the decision of the court."

The court restored Haneef's visa, opening the way for him to return to the country and come back to work.

But the Australian immigration ministry still has three weeks to appeal, according to Siddiqui, who travelled to Australia last month to escort Haneef, 27, back home to this southern Indian city.

"We hope they won't appeal and the matter ends here," he said. "If they do appeal, the case will drag on."

Haneef has been advised by his legal team to "keep quiet" until the Australian authorities decide whether to appeal, Siddiqui said, adding that the doctor was not in his home town of Bangalore.

In Australia, Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo said the court ruling had restored his client's life and career, and urged Immigation Minister Kevin Andrews not to appeal, allowing Haneef to complete his medical work and studies.

"We were expecting a positive decision today from the court but we were also a bit nervous about the reaction from the minister's office," said Siddiqui.

"In the past, whenever there was a positive judicial ruling, the minister reacted very negatively."

And Andrews suggested the case was not over. "I don't think today will be the end of the matter," the minister told ABC radio. "It'll probably end up on appeal and -- who knows? -- even in the high court one day."

Haneef was working at a state hospital on Australia's Gold Coast when he was arrested on July 2 and charged with providing support to a terror group behind the failed car bombings in London and Glasgow.

His lawyers argued in court that he should not have failed a "character test" simply because two of his cousins were allegedly involved in the failed attacks in London and Glasgow in June.

When Haneef was granted bail by a court after more than three weeks in detention, Andrews revoked his visa.

The charges that Haneef had "recklessly" abetted terrorism were eventually dropped and Haneef returned to India late last month proclaiming his innocence.

The case centred on the fact that Haneef's mobile phone SIM card was found in the possession of a second cousin implicated in the attacks.

Haneef said he had given the card and its unused talk-time to his cousin, Sabeel Ahmed, before moving to Australia a year ago.

Ahmed has been charged with withholding information about terrorism. His brother, Kafeel Ahmed, was the alleged driver of the flaming jeep that crashed into Glasgow Airport in June. He died of burns in hospital.