Terror suspect Mohammed Haneef’s barrister Stephen Keim on Sunday slammed reports in the Australian media that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) were probing Haneef for allegedly planning terror attacks in Australia.

The detained doctor’s barrister told Deccan Herald on Sunday that media reports — that said the police were investigating into possibilities of Haneef planning to destroy buildings in Australia — were “completely false”.
“The reports that the AFP were investigating into his alleged plans to blow up buildings, have turned out to be completely false. AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty himself has said that the reports are false,” Keim said. The barrister also dismissed the reports that said Haneef had tried to learn flying in Queensland.

Reports in certain sections of the Australian media had earlier reported that the police were exploring possibilities of Haneef having planned a terrorist attack on a landmark building at the Gold Coast.

The reports quoted law enforcement sources as saying that the police were examining images of the building and its foundations that were found among the documents and photographs seized from Haneef’s possession.
Quoting anonymous sources, it said the AFP was looking at documents which referred to destroying structures and had information that Haneef allegedly belonged to a group of doctors, who had been learning to fly in Queensland.However, AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty, on Sunday afternoon dismissed the report as “inaccurate” and said that the information had not come from the AFP.

Deportation
The barrister said there was no official word as yet on Haneef’s deportation to India.

“The media has quoted unnamed sources as saying that the government wanted to deport him to India to end their (the government’s) political problems. However, as of now, there has been no official response from the Australian government to the reports,” the barrister said.

 Keim said the arrival of Imran Siddiqui — cousin of Haneef’s wife Firdous Arshiya — had been of great moral support to Haneef, who is detained at the Wolston Correctional Centre in Brisbane.

On Sunday, Imran spoke at a community forum that hosted Christian and Muslim speakers, where he urged the Australian authorities to ensure a fair trial for Haneef.