Indian-origin Dr. Mohamed Haneef returning back to Australia for compensation talks

CANBERRA - Indian origin doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was falsely accused of terrorism and deprived of his working visa three years back, is reportedly returning back to Brisbane in Australia next month for compensation talks with the Government.

Haneef, who for the past two and -a- half years has been working as a GP in the United Arab Emirates, would be accompanied by his wife Firdous and daughter Haniyah.

The Australian quoted him as saying that he is scared at the thought of returning to Brisbane, where he was held for twelve days without charge after his mobile phone SIM card was linked to the failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow in 2007. But he also said that he would love to return to that country permanently.

“I’m very grateful for the support the Australian people gave me. I was really amazed when I saw people coming up and speaking on behalf of me,” Haneef said.

“This would be a time to see how the community accepts us there. After all the things that happened anybody would have this kind of nervousness and anxiety when they come back, where you have been incarcerated for so long,” he added.

Dr Haneef and his family would reach Brisbane a few days before the two-day talks, scheduled for December 20-21, the paper said.

Dr Haneef was working at the Gold Coast Hospital when he was arrested in connection to failed terror attacks in the UK in 2007. However an independent inquiry has cleared him of any involvement.

The then immigration minister, Kevin Andrews, revoked Dr Haneef’s visa on the day he was granted bail, prolonging his time in detention for a further 11 days.

Next month’s sessions would be mediated by Tony Fitzgerald QC, whose 1987 judicial inquiry exposed widespread judicial and police corruption in Queensland. (ANI)