The Hindu : National : India requests Australia to grant visa to Haneef

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Saturday, Jul 28, 2007
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India requests Australia to grant visa to Haneef

NEW DELHI: India on Friday asked Australia to issue a visa to Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef to facilitate his return in the wake of dropping of terror charges against him by police.

The External Affairs Ministry has instructed the Indian High Commission in Canberra to “support” Dr. Haneef’s request for a visa.

Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told NDTV that New Delhi was taking all possible steps for the release and safe return of Dr. Haneef.

Mr. Ahamed said: “He will come back to India. There are two ways, either he should be deported or granted a visa.”

No bearing on ties

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer asserted that bilateral relationship with India would not be affected due to the Haneef episode.

“I think our relationship with India is a good and strong relationship, and I don’t think this will have any bearing on it,” Mr. Downer said in Perth.

“Regrettable”

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said it was regrettable that charges were laid against Dr. Haneef, but he would not apologise to the Indian doctor.

Labour’s legal affairs spokesman asked the Government to immediately set up an external review into the handling of Dr. Haneef’s case. “The Howard Government must now establish an external review into the handling of the Mohamed Haneef case by the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions,” Senator Joe Ludwig said.

“An immediate review is critical, given the importance of sustaining public confidence in the application of Australia’s new counter-terrorism laws,” he said.

Mr. Ludwig also asked Mr. Andrews to explain inconsistencies in his stance on the case on Friday. “Minister Andrews must now explain the precise reasons underpinning his new position on this matter, given his continued statements that his decision to cancel Dr. Haneef’s visa is a separate matter to the court process that has been under way,” he said.

It would be inappropriate, said Mr. Ludwig, for Labour to comment on the case further as Dr. Haneef’s representatives planned to launch an appeal against the visa decision.

“Federal Labour notes the statement of Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty on Friday that the investigation into this matter continues,” he said.

An Australian Minister has said that Dr. Haneef should be treated like a “good guy” if he is found not guilty of supporting terrorism. “If he’s a good guy who has done nothing wrong, I suppose, he should be treated like other good guys who’ve done nothing wrong,” Health Minister Tony Abbott was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

“But whether he is a good guy who has done nothing wrong is the sort of thing that Kevin Andrews, quite rightly, will be seeking expert advice on.” — PTI

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