Don't deport Haneef, India tells Australia

Brisbane: Mohammad Haneef has finally been awarded his freedom. He had been branded a terrorist for the last 25 days, but has been proved to be an innocent victim.

His relative said a relieved Haneef was grateful to the Indian and Australian public for their support.

"We want him to go on his free will. We wouldn't want him to be deported because that's going to jeopardise his work whether in Australia or in any other country. I wouldn't want him to have a black mark on his passport, because he's done nothing wrong," his relative Imran Siddiqui told CNN-IBN.

On Friday, the prosecution sensationally dropped the terror charge against him, but the decision was not unexpected.

Haneef's case had been plagued by a series of inconsistencies and media leaks because of which the Australian authorities decided to review all the evidence on Wednesday.

The voice of human rights activists, lawyers, the Indian government and Haneef's own prayers had finally been heard.

Chief Prosecutor, Damien Bugg said, "In my view a mistake has been made where Haneef is concerned."

The chief prosecutor said the mistakes were related to Haneef's SIM card, which was not found in the Glasgow terror attack jeep. There had also been a mistake when it was believed that he was sharing a home in Liverpool with terror accused, Kafeel Ahmed and Sabeel Ahmed.

Bugg and the Australian Police Chief, Mick Keelty, shared the blame but defended their handling of the case and declined to resign.

"We should note this is a complex investigation in continuing. The matter of apology to Haneef is not a matter for the Australian Federal Police," said Keelty.

Haneef has now returned home to Queensland. He can't speak to the media till at least Monday, but his lawyers say he is demanding a visa to return to India with honour and dignity.

However, Haneef is not free just yet. He will remain in residential detention until the Federal Immigration Minister decides whether his visa will be reinstated.

On his first night out of solitary confinement, Haneef will undergo medical checks before making contact with his family in India.

The Indian Government is also pressing Canberra to not to deport him.

Minister of State, External Affairs, Anand Sharma said, "Haneef should be allowed to get a visa and remain in Australia."

Haneef will eventually return to India, but only after setting off a raging debate in Australia over its war on terror.

(With inputs from Erin Edward in Brisbane)

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