Brisbane Times
Mohamed Haneef's relative Imran Siddiqui arrives at Brisbane International Airport, flanked by supporter Emad Soliman and Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo.
Bangalore / Melbourne, Jul 22: The Howard Government is planning to deport detained terror suspect Mohamed Haneef to contain the political fallout from a case that insiders fear is becoming farcical.
By withdrawing the Criminal Justice Certificate that he issued last week, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock can ensure Haneef is deported immediately.
Haneef's relative, Imran Siddiqui, arrived in Brisbane late last night in a show of family support.
"Someone has to be there from home," Mr Siddiqui told journalists at Brisbane airport.
"Physically a person to be here is very important. I have to see how the legal proceedings are going on, and see if we can strengthen the legal approach."
Several senior Government sources have told Fairfax newspaper The Sunday Age they were furious at the Australian Federal Police for their handling of the case and wanted to shut the issue down before it did more damage to the Government's credibility.
"Our best option is to cancel the Criminal Justice Certificate, which was issued to keep Haneef here in Australia after we cancelled his visa, and that is my understanding of what our intentions are," one Government source said.
"Cancel the certificate and get this guy out of Australia. The story ends there and he can become someone else's problem."
Mr Ruddock issued the Certificate of Justice so that Haneef's deportation could be stayed pending judicial proceedings. But with the federal police case surrounding Haneef collapsing after revelations that the SIM card he left in Britain was not used in the failed suicide bomb attack in Glasgow, Government strategists believe there is little point holding him in Australia.
"There is no upside proceeding with this. We keep him here, then it remains an issue every day until the election. We deport him and it's over," the source said.
Haneef's SIM card was not found in the car used in the attempted bombing of Glasgow Airport, as initially claimed by the Commonwealth. It was, in fact, found in Liverpool with his cousin, Sabeel Ahmed.
"Another snafu special from commissioner plod (AFP chief) Mick Keelty," another Government source told The Sunday Age.
"There is growing sentiment that we should cut our losses and deport him (Haneef). No one is backing away from the fact that this guy is a security risk. We are standing by the decision to cancel his visa but there is simply not enough evidence to convict him of anything."
Mr Ruddock would only say last night that he had not ruled out cancelling Haneef's Certificate of Justice.
A spokeswoman for AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said that as the matter was before court, it was inappropriate for the federal police to comment. She also declined to comment on any other aspects of the case, including the incorrect information presented to the court about Haneef's SIM card.
Prime Minister John Howard also avoided answering questions on the issue yesterday.
But questions were being asked in the Government about why Australia's security agencies did not identify Haneef as a risk in the first place.
Human-rights lawyer Julian Burnside, QC, has criticised the conduct of senior ministers in the Haneef case as "incompatible with our democracy" as they had disregarded the presumption of innocence and sanctioned use of secret evidence.
Former Indian attorney-general and prominent international human-rights lawyer Soli J. Sorabjee said the Australian Government had overreacted. Cancelling the visa was disproportionate to the reckless behaviour of lending a SIM card.
Mr Sorabjee noted that Haneef had been able to make phone calls and speak to his wife, consular staff and lawyer. "But the catch" was the visa cancellation, which stopped him working and left him detained.
Haneef has been detained in a Brisbane Correctional Centre since July 2.
Mr Siddiqui, a cousin of Haneef's wife Firdous Arshiya, said tonight his family had found the ordeal to be "traumatic", but were coping well.
"It has been quite difficult but still the family is coping well," he said.
He said anyone who knew Haneef would be shocked by the allegations.
"We all know him as a very good person, as a model citizen and a model person - character-wise, behaviour, everything. He has done well in his studies, a good profession as well."
He said the family were pleased with the legal team so far and thanked the judiciary for granting Haneef bail.
Mr Siddiqui was welcomed to Brisbane by fellow Muslim Emad Soliman, who felt compelled to meet him and support the family.
A PhD student at Griffith University and Democrats candidate for the federal seat of Moreton, Mr Soliman said it was important Mr Siddiqui felt welcome in Australia.
"I don't believe in guilt by association," he said.
Mr Soliman said the 30,000-strong Muslim community in Brisbane were concerned by the case, and confirmed that several members of the community had been questioned by the Federal Police.
"I think we're in fear that who's going to be next," he said.
Haneef's solicitor Peter Russo, who was also at the airport, said he was unsure when Mr Siddiqui would be able to visit Haneef.
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