The Hindu : Front Page : Judicial inquiry not needed: Howard

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Saturday, Aug 04, 2007
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Judicial inquiry not needed: Howard

Melbourne: Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Friday said there was no need for a judicial inquiry into Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef’s case following a ruling by the High Court which upheld new anti-terrorism laws.

The High Court had on Thursday ruled that a terrorism law used to impose an interim control order on terrorism suspect Joseph Terrence Thomas was constitutionally valid.

Court ruling

The court ruled that the section of the anti-terrorism laws relating to control orders was supported at least by the defence power in the Constitution. Thomas was cleared of terrorism charges by a court last year but judged by authorities to still pose a potential terrorist threat. Opposition leader Kevin Rudd has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the handling of Dr. Haneef’s case in which charges were dropped. But Mr. Howard said there was no need for an inquiry because the terrorism laws already had passed an important test.

“We don’t need a judicial inquiry, that is a politically inspired call by Mr. Rudd,” Mr. Howard said on a local TV network.—PTI

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