New Delhi: While there has not been a reaction to Australian Prime Minister John Howard’s statements in Australia, the Indian government has welcomed the dropping of all charges against Indian doctor, Mohammed Haneef.
The Indian Government is pleased that Haneef has been released from the correction centre in Brisbane and the charges against him have been dropped by the Australian Federal Police.
However, Indian High Commission has requested Australian immigration authorities for revival of Haneef's visa as all charges have been dropped against him.
Said MEA Spokesperson, Navtej Sarna, “It is a matter of satisfaction that justice has been done in this unfortunate case, which had been closely followed among members of the public and media in both the countries."
"It is the sincere hope of the Government of India that Dr Haneef will be able to depart Australia of his own accord in the near future,” he added.
Australian media reports suggest that Haneef could be on his way back home as early as on Saturday night.
Haneef said he is very grateful to Australians for their heartening outpouring of support for him.
Haneef’s lawyer, Peter Russo of Ryan and Bosscher Lawyers, who flew to India with his client, said Haneef wanted to thank Australians who had supported him throughout his detention.
Haneef’s lawyers said that family needs and homesickness drove his decision to fly home late on Saturday after being freed on Friday evening from almost three weeks in custody on a terrorism- related charge.
Haneef was freed from prison on Friday after Australian authorities decided to drop all charges against him.
Haneef was moved under tight security from the Wolston Correctional Centre to an Immigration Department owned unit in Brisbane.
He spent his first night of freedom with his lawyer Peter Russo and his wife's cousin Imran Siddiqui.
Haneef is likely to spend most of Saturday going through his property, which had been confiscated by Australian police.
Media reports in Australia suggest that police there are angry with Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews for his decision to revoke Haneef's visa last week.
The charge was officially dropped on Friday afternoon although Dr Haneef’s visa cancellation meant he was still in immigration detention. The Immigration Minister subsequently released him to residential detention in Brisbane.
Immigration authorities made it a condition of facilitating his return to India that he not take part in news media photo or interview opportunities.
Russo said Haneef’s legal team was very disappointed he was prevented from publicly thanking Australians who supported him through his detention.
“He has experienced an enormous wave of relief at being freed from detention, and coupled with an overwhelming urge to be with his family in India, he wished to return home as soon as possible,” Russo said.
Comments
0 comment