Prayers, feast, flowers to greet Haneef

BANGALORE: A large gathering of relatives and well-wishers, prayers and a sumptuous feast await Muhammad Haneef at his father-in-law's home as he returns on Sunday night from Australia after a 25-day ordeal.

The feast will have two sweet dishes. "He likes sweets," his wife Firdous Arshiya said with a smile.

The 27-year-old Indian doctor, who was working as a registrar in the Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland of Australia, was held July 2 at the Brisbane Airport when he was to board a flight home.

He faced the charge of aiding the failed terror plot in Britain but was finally cleared of any involvement and set free.

Giving details of the preparations at the residence at BTM Layout area, Firdous's uncle Inayatulla Sharif said 'there will be prayers but no singing or other such activities' to celebrate Haneef's homecoming.

"Mutton biryani, chilly chicken, Hyderabadi chicken, roomali roti, dal ka meetha and another sweet dish made of rice have been prepared," said Sharif, a businessman.

"We will spend three to four hours talking to Haneef," he said on the plans the family has drawn up for the night.

Sharif said Firdous, a software engineer, would not be going to the airport to receive her husband and will wait for him at home since their child is barely a month old.

Their daughter, named Hania by Haneef, was born June 26. Haneef will get to see her for the first time.

Sharif said, "50 to 60 relatives are there at the house to celebrate Haneef's return."

The house has been decorated with lights and flowers to match what Firdous described as 'festival time' for her.