'Protected information on Haneef surprising'

New Delhi, July 31: Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed today expressed his surprise at the Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' statement that he had some 'protected information' regarding Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef.

In a statement here, Mr Ahamed said the fact that terrorism charges against the Indian doctor were dropped establishes that the evidence against the medic was weak and would not have stood legal test in a court of law.

''Charges have been withdrawn by the Prosecutor in Australia demostrate that evidence against Dr Mohammed Haneef is very weak and it will not face the legal test in a Court of law,'' Mr Ahamed said.

Referring to the Australian Minister's claim, Mr Ahamed said, ''If there had been additional convincing or persuasive evidence, it would have been sufficient to persuade the Prosecutor not to drop charges against Dr Haneef.

Mr Andrews, in his reaction to Dr Haneef's interview to ABC Radio, yesterday said he had cancelled the Indian doctor's visa purely on character grounds and he was seeking advice as to whether he can publicly reveal ''the extra information'' which led him to take the decision.

''The reality is that I have had one hand tied behind my back because this information was provided to me under the legislation by the federal police as protected information,'' Mr Andrews said.

After his release, Dr Haneef's wife Arshiya Firdaus had telephoned the Minister to thank him for the efforts to secure his husband's release. Dr Haneef had also called Mr Ahamed from a hotel after his release from detention in Australia.

UNI