Family members of Dr Mohammed Haneef, against whom the Australian police dropped charges of terrorism on Friday, were overjoyed to hear the good news.

“I am very happy to know that charges against Haneef have been relieved. We want to visit Mecca after his arrival in two or three days to offer special thanks to the Almighty, an elated Firdaus Ashriya, Haneef’s wife, told the media at her residence in Bangalore.

Ms Firdaus said she expected her husband to return within two to three days. “My cousin, who went to Australia carrying our new born daughter’s photo to show it to Haneef, was informed by the Australian advocate that my husband may be back here within two or three days,” she added.

On what gave her the strength to fight all odds and remain calm, Ms Firdaus said her faith in Allah and confidence that Haneef was innocent has kept her going all these days.

She thanked the Indian government and the Ministry of External Affairs along with the media in India and Australia, for all their support. She also praised Australian citizens for opposing the charges against Haneef.

However, Firdaus didn’t comment on whether she wanted her husband to continue working in Australia. “I don’t know”, was all she said. Firdaus also informed that she spoke to Haneef’s lawyers on Friday about his release and other legal procedures but was eagerly waiting to hear from Haneef. Her father and brother joined the Friday prayers at the mosque.

At mother’s house
It was celebration time at Mohammed Haneef’s mother’s house at Frazer town too.

Haneef’s mother Qurradhulain and sister Sumayya Tabassum, who had shut the doors to the outside world all these days, were busy welcoming visitors and distributing sweets.

“I am happy to get back my son. I have gained all the riches of the world. I don’t want anything more,” said a joyous Qurradhulain.

Sumayya said: “We are extremely happy. We are expecting Haneef’s arrival in Bangalore in the next two days”.

Sumayya said her family was relieved after they received a call from her sister-in-law, Firdaus, on Friday morning that Haneef was cleared of all the charges.

Sumayya also said that she expected an apology from the Australian government for keeping her brother in detention since July 2. “Though he was innocent, he was underwent a lot of mental torture. We demand an apology from the Australian government for the treatment meted out to him,” she said. 

‘He shouldn't be deported’

Bangalore, dhns: Ms Firdaus insisted that her husband should not be deported and that he should come back on a regular visa. “All I want now is the homecoming of my husband on a regular visa. He should not be deported,” she said.

She further said “the truth has come out. I have been saying that my husband is innocent and that has been proved right. But I don’t want him to be deported.”

Haneef calls up wife
Just a few hours after the Australian police dropped terror charges against him on Friday, Mohammed Haneef called up his wife Firdaus Ashriya in Bangalore.

Haneef, who has been shifted to an undisclosed location on residential detention, spoke to Firdaus for nearly one minute over phone. “He spoke to me at around 6 pm... He was very happy,” she said.

She said that he enquired about the daughter’s health and said that he wants to visit Bangalore as early as possible and meet his family.

After being shifted from Brisbane jail, Haneef is now free to call his family members.