Back home, smile back on Dr Haneef146;s face

Over the media throng in the living room at his father-in-law8217;s house Dr Mohammed Haneef8217;s eyes searched for his immediate family.

Over the media throng in the living room at his father-in-law8217;s house Dr Mohammed Haneef8217;s eyes searched for his immediate family. When he caught his mother Qurathullain8217;s eye, standing on the first floor of the house and looking down at him, a radiant smile appeared on his face. They exchanged small, discreet waves to each other.

Dr Haneef8217;s wife Firdaus Arshiya and their month-old child Haniya were out of sight, shielded in from the media glare in a bedroom in the house. The homecoming of Dr Mohammed Haneef on Sunday night, following his detention in Australia on charges of terrorism, that were subsequently dropped, was marked by scenes of celebration and chaos.

Dr Haneef was embroiled in a virtual stampede as he emerged from a Thai Airways flight that landed in Bangalore at 9:30 pm, escorted by his cousin Imran Siddiqui and his Australian lawyer Peter Russo8212;who was greeted with a garland. As he emerged outside the airport, surrounded by airport security staff and policemen, a bewildered Dr Haneef was jostled around violently forcing him to ask his cousin Imran 8220;what8217;s happening?8221;

Meanwhile, his father-in-law Ashfaq Ahmed8217;s house in south Bangalore was all decked up with flowers and balloons to greet the prodigal son. Handwritten cardboard posts at the house said 8220;Welcome home Haneef8221;, 8220;Russo is Great8221;, 8220;Thank Imran8221;. Friends and family from the surrounding area had all gathered at the house where biriyani and special sweets had been prepared for Dr Haneef.

When Dr Haneef arrived at the house with Imran Siddiqui, after depositing Peter Russo in a Bangalore hotel, a shower of petals greeted them. Under advice from his lawyers to desist from commenting on the case in Australia, Dr Haneef read out a prepared statement to the media thronging the living room in his wife8217;s house.

8220;I want to start by thanking my God. All praises to him. It is an emotional moment for me to be back with my family and seeing them all here at home, after a long wait of 27 days and going through the trauma,8221; he said. 8220;I want to thank my family for the support, the Government of India, the Indian High Commissioner to Australia and all his staff, my lawyer Peter Russo, Stephen Keim and his legal team in Australia, my supporters here in India and in Australia and throughout the world and the media who have supported me both in India, Australia and worldwide,8221; he said. 8220;Last but not the least I want to thank the star of the proceedings my brother Imran for bringing me home to my wife and my daughter. Thank you all,8221; Dr Haneef said.

Karnataka Chief Minister, hearing of Dr Haneef8217;s return, offered him a job. One family member remarked that the offer would be politely rejected.