Australia drops terror charges against Haneef

Claiming that justice had been done in the unfortunate case, the ministry of external affairs (MEA), in a statement said, ?We understand that Haneef has been granted a bridging visa and the Australian minister for immigration has requested the solicitor general of Australia to review the immigration decision of revoking his visa.?

The MEA further claimed that India expected that Haneef would leave Australia ?of his own accord in the near future?. The Australian prosecutors withdrew the case against Haneef, who was arrested on July 2 and later charged with ?recklessly? supporting a terrorist group, at a Brisbane Magistrates? court hearing following a review.

Commonwealth director of public prosecution Damian Bugg said he withdrew the charges because he was satisfied ?there was no reasonable prospect of conviction?.

At a joint press conference in Canberra, where Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Mick Keelty was also present, Bugg said, ?In the magistrate?s court in Brisbane, proceedings against Haneef were discontinued on my motion.?

?On my view of this matter a mistake has been made and I will examine that because to me the primary decision to make was to determine whether or not this prosecution was on sound footing or not, I?ve made that determination,? he said. ?I?ll now take further steps to inquire as to how that mistake occurred,? he added. Haneef, a Gold Coast hospital registrar, was charged with supporting a terrorist group because he gave his SIM card to his cousin Sabeel Ahmed, a doctor from India also held in Britain over last month?s failed UK terror plot.