By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian government has again sought consular access to Muhammad Haneef, the Indian doctor held in an Australian correction centre on charges of being connected to the failed British bombings.
Minister of External Affairs E. Ahamed met the 27-year-old doctor's wife Firdous Arshiya in Bangalore Thursday evening and assured her that one member of the family would get a visa to travel to Australia to help fight Haneef's case.
Ahamed spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday morning and conveyed Arshiya's "grief and concern" and her "gratitude" for the efforts taken by the Indian government to get Haneef released.
"The Indian High Commission in Canberra has sought consular access for the second time to Haneef," Ahamed told IANS over phone from Bangalore.
"Firdous wanted the visa for her cousin to be cleared as soon as possible so he could travel to Australia. The visa is expected to be ready by Friday," Ahamed said.
He said that the Indian government has sought all information about the case and pointed out to Australian authorities that Haneef deserved fair treatment and a trial under Australian law.
"The Indian high commissioner there has met the police chief also. The high commission is in touch with the family too," Ahamed explained.
Haneef, who has been kept in solitary confinement, has been charged under Australia's counter-terrorism laws for allegedly supporting a terrorist organisation by "recklessly" giving his mobile phone SIM card to people planning the UK bomb attacks.
Although he was given bail, the Australian government has cancelled his 457 work visa and have held him in immigration detention.
The minister told Arshiya that the Indian government had been "emboldened" by the observation made by the magistrate, who granted him bail, that Haneef's record was "impeccable" as per the information from the Queensland hospital where he worked.
"I assured her that the Indian government would do everything possible within the law for him. It is our duty to protect an Indian national wherever he is,"
Ahamed said.
According to the minister, Arshiya, who has just given birth to a baby girl, was very depressed.
"She said Haneef and the family were against violence and terrorism and that he was innocent," said the minister.