Haneef's chat led to visa cancellation: Minister

Melbourne July 31: Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has revealed in the latest twist to the saga that an internet chat room conversation between Dr Mohamed Haneef and his brother was among the reasons for which his visa was cancelled.

Earlier, the beleaguered Minister had refused to reveal anything from the 'protected information' to justify the cancellation of temporary business entry visa of the Indian doctor, who has since been released and is in India.

The Australian Minister is under immense pressure from the media and civil libertarians to resign for cancelling the Indian doctor's visa to work for a Queensland hospital. Kevin Andrews had promised to release some 'secret' information, which was used regarding the above-mentioned decision.

The Immigration Minister has revealed the information about the doctor's chat with his brother Shoaib in India on the advise of the solicitor-general David Bennett QC.

According to Mr Andrews, the brother of Dr Haneef said: 'Nothing has been found out about you' and asked when he (Haneef) would get out, to which the doctor replied 'today'." "The brother asked whether he had the permission to take leave and what he'd told the hospital," the Minister told a reporters today.

Kevin Andrews also said Dr Haneef told his brother in the chat that he had told the hospital that his wife had given birth to a daughter, and "nothing else".

"The brother then said not to delay his departure and not to let anyone else use his number in Australia, nor to give it to anyone.

"The brother added that 'auntie' told him that brother Kafeel used it in some sort of protest over there," the Minister told reporters, apparently referring to the failed UK bombing accused Kafeel Ahmed.

"He did not apply for leave from the hospital when he went to work there on Monday morning and it was not until after he received two telephone calls, one from India, having been told in both calls that there was an issue about his SIM card, that he applied for leave that afternoon from the hospital," he said.

"The solicitor-general has advised me that based on the material that is known now, I could make the same decision as I originally did," he told reporters.

Mr Andrews has stressed that he will not be releasing all the information right now."I will not, however, release the full ...protected material as I have been advised by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police that this would have the effect of prejudicing or jeopardising further investigations," he added.

UNI