Haneef to approach HC to get his work visa

Sydney, Aug 22: Indian born doctor Mohamed Haneef will be approaching the Queensland High Court to get his Australian work visa back, said a family member.Australia's Federal Court on Tuesday ordered the government to return Dr Haneef's work visa, which was cancelled on character grounds last month.The family realises Tuesday's victory might be just a first step in a long legal battle, said Imran Siddiqui, a cousin of Dr Haneef's wife.

"The family and Haneef are well prepared for further stages in that battle, if needed," Siddiqui told ABC radio.

"We do have a very strong faith in the Australian judicial system and we are well prepared to go to the High Court as well," he added.
Siddiqui said he hoped that Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews would consider all the circumstances, which have changed since he made his original decision, including the dropping of the charge against Dr Haneef.

He said that it was very important for the family to win the case, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Quashing Andrews' decision to cancel Haneef's visa, Justice Spender issued an injunction restraining Andrews from acting upon the cancellation of the visa, and ordered he pay Haneef's costs.

Justice Spender said that contrary to some media reports, which he described as "scandalous", the case was not a contest between the judiciary and the Howard Government.

He further observed that remarks making claims of tension between judges and the Federal Government was "ignorant and grossly misinformed."

Andrews cancelled Dr Haneef's visa on the grounds that the doctor had failed a character test provided under immigration laws, because he had an association with alleged criminals - namely his second cousins, UK terror suspects Kafeel and Sabeel Ahmed.

Andrews on Tuesday said that the Australian Government would appeal against a court ruling overturning his decision to cancel Indian born doctor Mohamed Haneef's visa.

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