Dr Mohammed Haneef wins Australian visa appeal

Melbourne, Dec 21 (UNI) The disgraced Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef has won his appeal against the Australian Federal Government decision to cancel his visa.

Today's decision allows Dr Haneef to return, if he wants, to Australia to work as a doctor.

Even though Australian government can appeal against the unanimous ruling in High Court, it is being considered a slap on the face of the former Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

Earlier, the Liberal Minister's decision to cancel Mohammed Haneef's temporary work visa was overturned by a Federal Court judge in August.

Dr Mohammed Haneef, who was detained by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) earlier this year on terrorism suspicions, may now seek compensation for his ''wrongful'' arrest and defamation.

According to a statement issued today by Brisbane compensation lawyer Mr Mark O'Connor, the Indian doctor from Bangalore has grounds to sue the Australian government for his ordeal.

But, if Mohammed Haneef's lawyer Mr Peter Russo is to be believed, the Indian doctor's main aim was to clear his name.

According to the Australian media reports quoting the above-named Australian lawyer, who also accompanied his client on his way to India in July, Dr Haneef may not return to work as a doctor in his old position in a Queensland hospital.

''Firstly, to enable him to make that decision as to whether or not he will come back and secondly, for him to clear his name and get on with his life,'' Mr Peter Russo was quoted by Australian media today.

''As time goes by I don't know whether that wish is as strong as it was when we started,'' he added.

Dr Haneef, is reportedly visiting Saudi Arabia for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

UNI