Click to play videoBangalore: Mohammed Haneef has been locked up in a police watchhouse for 11 days now, undergoing interrogation and not knowing when he'll get to see his new born child or if he'll ever walk free again.
An Indian in a foreign land with no family or friends, Haneef had only an uncertain future to look forward to.
On Friday, however, his luck seemed to have finally turned. The Australian Police has withdrawn a court bid to extend his detention and they now have a total of 12 hours to question him.
At the end of those 12 hours, which could be spread over 3 days, Haneef will either have to be charged in court or set free.
Australian media reports suggest Haneef will be allowed to walk because the police have found little evidence on him. His family looks forward to have him home.
"We are extremely happy that he will be released soon. He inquired about the health of his family, when we spoke to him and he said he's fine, doing well," his wife told CNN-IBN
However, that may not be the whole truth. Haneef's 11-day police custody has left him depressed, says his lawyer Peter Russo.
The doctor reportedly broke down during a visit to Russo, pleading that he was not a terrorist.
And that is not the only trouble he is facing. He could also be evicted from his flat for not paying rent.
"Well, my understanding from speaking to the landlord is that his flat is unliveable, in its current state," says his Russo.
Haneef is the first person to be detained under Australia's new counter terrorism laws, which allow unlimited detention, putting him smack in the centre of a vocal debate.
Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, has defended those laws as necessary, but civil rights activists accuse the police of violating Haneef's human rights.
Says Amnesty International Spokesperson, Katie Wood, "It was an investigation period which is supposed to last for 24 hours, which is through this concept called dead time and it was extended into almost two weeks. This is clearly a breach of international human rights standards and the rule of law."
Haneef has consistently claimed he's not a terrorist and that he's been deemed guilty by association and family ties to known British terror suspects. But even if he walks a free man, he may well be seen with suspicion by some -- at least till the dust finally settles on his nightmare.
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