Melbourne, December 21
In an embarrassment to the Australian government, the Federal Court today restored the work visa of Indian doctor Mohd Haneef, nearly five months after he was exonerated of the terror charges in connection with the failed UK car bombings.
Haneef (27), who was now free to work in Australia, was pleased to have cleared his name but was yet to decide whether to return from India, his lawyer Peter Russo said.
“I don’t think Haneef wants to put himself in the position where his wife has to go through the trauma that she went through, when he was first detained,” he said.
Immigration minister Chris Evans, whose predecessor Kevin Andrews had cancelled Haneef’s work visa on character grounds, said, “I formed the judgement that there was no basis for me to cancel Haneef’s visa. Haneef is entitled to return to this country and take up employment in accordance with his visa.”
The full Bench of the Federal Court in a “unanimous” decision dismissed a government petition challenging Justice Jeffery Spender’s ruling in August and directed that litigation costs be
paid to Haneef.
Haneef, who spent nearly four weeks in the custody after his arrest from Brisbane airport on July 2 when he attempted to board a flight to India, had challenged the cancellation of his work visa.
Haneef, who had returned to India on July 29 and was currently on
pilgrimage to Mecca, had insisted that his legal battle was aimed at clearing his name.
“It is a double Eid for us today,” an emotional Ashfaq Ahmed, father-in-law of Haneef, said in Bangalore.
Welcoming the verdict, premier of the Queensland Anna Bligh said she would be pleased to have the Indian doctor in the state hospital.
Bligh said Haneef was considered a competent doctor in his time with the Queensland Health.
Jeff Hollywood, manager of Gold Coast hospital, where Haneef used to work prior to his arrest on July 2, said though Haneef had been replaced, he would be welcome to apply for upcoming positions.
“We welcome his expertise and training,” he said.
— PTI
