Haneef gets relief as AFP drops its detention request

July 13: Friday brought a relief to Dr. Haneef when Australian police cancelled their plan of requesting for another detention of Dr. Haneef to Brisbane Magistrate Court.

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Even after long and deep investigations about Dr. Haneef, Australian police could not find any evidence against him. But still AFP was not ready to release Dr. Haneef and wanted another extension to detain him for more days. Because they suspected that Dr. Haneef tendered support to the organization which conspired the terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow airport.

This relaxation came as a result of opposition and criticism by civil rights groups and lawyers of the country. Though extension has been dropped but the questioning period may be extended to unlimited.

He is under detention without any charge against him since July 02 when he was picked up from the Australian city of Brisbane.

Federal police was trying hard to extend the period of detention for another three days from the Brisbane magistrate court. Police feared that once they released Dr. Haneef they would not be able to keep a watch on his actions and communications with others.

Law Council of Australia has criticized this illegal detention of Dr. Haneef without any charges.

Indian high commission officials are expected to see Attorney General, Philip Ruddock on Friday regarding the release of Haneef.

On Thursday police raided his residence and working place Queensland health department building and seized his belongings and want this extra time to examine that material which includes two hard rives, two flash drives and mobile phones and camera.

Federal police has failed to substantiate their claims of links of Dr. Haneef to other UK terror plot suspect.

Dr. Haneef accepted of having family relations with Kafeel Ahmad with whom he shared an accommodation in Britain but rejected any link to the bomb plot.

Prime Minister of Australia John Howard said that he is comfortable with Dr. Haneef’s detention and rejected any criticism of counter terrorism laws. He said that if laws are needed to be more stringent then he is not mindful of doing that too.

Dr. Haneef’s lawyer Peter Rosso told a channel that such detention is making an adverse impact on him.