MEA summons Australian envoy over Haneef issue

NEW DELHI: Stepping up pressure on Australia over Mohd Haneef issue, India on Tuesday summoned its Ambassador here to convey its concern and emphasised that the doctor from Bangalore be treated in a fair manner.

High Commissioner John McCarthy was summoned by Biren Nanda, Joint Secretary (South) in the External Affairs Ministry, to convey India's view, a day after sending a similar message to the Mission here.

Nanda told McCarthy that India was concerned over the circumstances in which 27-year-old Haneef is and wanted Canberra to treat him in a 'fair' manner, MEA sources said.

The envoy was summoned a day after Australian government invoked immigration laws to retain Haneef in detention after a court granted him bail in failed UK terror attack case.

The Indian High Commission in Canberra is helping Haneef's family in arranging legal assistance.

Haneef, detained in Brisbane on July 2 in connection with two failed terror plots of the UK, was charged last Saturday with 'recklessly' providing support to a terrorist organisation by giving mobile phone SIM card to British suspects Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed in July 2006.

Brisbane Magistrate Jacqui Payne granted him bail on Monday subject to a few conditions, saying the prosecution had not alleged any direct link between the Bangalore doctor and the botched car bombings in London and Glasgow.