Terror suspect Indian doctor may get Australian visa back

    CANBERRA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Australia's former terror suspect Mohamed Haneef on Tuesday won his court bid to get his Australian work visa back.

    The Australian Federal Court ruled that Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews made a jurisdictional error when he canceled Haneef's visa on character grounds last month, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.

    Justice Jeffrey Spender prefaced his finding by saying although there was a political aspect to the case, his job was to do his best according to the law.

    Haneef, an Indian-born doctor, was arrested in Australia early July in connection with the foiled terror attacks in Britain in June, and was later charged with supporting a terrorist organization.

    He was granted bail on July 16, but hours later Andrews announced Haneef had had his visa canceled.

    Haneef had been in immigration detention in Australia until the terror charge against him was dropped due to lack of evidence.

    He returned to India late last month, and has been in a battle to get his Australian visa reinstated.

    However any return of Haneef's visa will be delayed at least until next month, after Justice Spender gave the immigration minister 21 days to respond to his ruling.

    Speaking before Tuesday's decision was handed down, Andrews said he was likely to appeal against the court's ruling.

    "I don't think today will be the end of the matter, I think whatever the result in the court today that'll probably end up on appeal and who knows even in the High Court one day," he said.

Australian prosecutors drop Indian doctor's terror charge

     CANBERRA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Friday dropped the terror charge against Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef who was arrested in Australia earlier this month in connection with the foiled terror attacks in Britain.

    Haneef, who has been working in Australia since last year, was charged with supporting a terrorist organization. 

Indian doctor to leave Australia for home soon

    CANBERRA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef whose terror charge has been dropped will leave Australia for home Saturday night but he will continue to fight to have his Australian work visa reinstated, according to the doctor's lawyer.

    Peter Russo, Haneef's lawyer who will fly with his client to India, said that Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews should immediately reinstate Haneef's visa, Australian Associated Press reported.