Haneef's wife happy with support

Firdous Arshiya, wife of Mohammad Haneef, detained in Australia on the charge of aiding a terror group, on Friday said she was relieved and happy with the support offered to him by the Centre.

"The assistance provided by the Indian government has helped ease the mental pressure on us. I am happy and relieved," she told PTI in Bangalore.

Firdous said she had a brief meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, who "...flew down (here) from Delhi just to extend support to the family and inform us that India has secured Consular access to Haneef."

"I am overwhelmed and moved by the concern shown by the Union Government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and am hopeful now," the software engineer, who has been vocal in expressing her views about the case, said.

To a question as to when Haneef's cousin Imran Siddiqi, who has been granted a tourist visa, would be leaving for Australia, she said, "Most probably tomorrow."

Ahamed, during his meeting with Haneef's family in Bangalore on Thursday, conveyed India's concern on the issue and said the Australian authorities has been asked to ensure all facilities to Haneef under the law of the country.

The 27-year-old doctor is being kept under solitary confinement for 23 hours a day in Wolston Correctional Centre, Brisbane.

Haneef's bail plea will be heard on August 8.