ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The Australian government has granted visas to the mother and brother of a dying Pakistani student, after being severely criticised by the people.
Hassan Asif, a 25-year-old who came to Australia on a student visa, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told he has only a few weeks to live.
His mother and brother wanted to be with him in his final days but they were refused visas, as they were considered at risk of overstaying. The decision sparked an outcry with the Melbourne City Mission homeless refuge, which is caring for Asif, urging Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to “show some compassion”.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GRANTS HASSAN’S DYING WISH: As the community organisation caring for Hassan Asif, we welcome the…
Posted by Melbourne City Mission on Tuesday, December 22, 2015
“Hassan faces a lonely death as immigration department refuse mum’s visa,” it said on its Facebook page. “We urge Peter Dutton to intervene and reunite Hassan with his family one last time.”
Hassan faces a lonely death as Immigration Department refuse mum’s visa. We urge Peter Dutton to intervene and reunite Hassan with his family one last time.
Posted by Melbourne City Mission on Monday, December 21, 2015
The Labour opposition demanded Dutton “sort out this bureaucratic bungle”.
“On the face of it, it seems a cruel and callous decision to refuse his Pakistani-based mother and brother a visa to visit Asif,” said shadow immigration minister Richard Marles. “This appears to be a disgraceful and heartless decision.”
The immigration minister, holding a press conference yesterday, said it was the “right decision” to refuse the visas based on the information that was provided. But within half an hour he had changed his mind.
“I’d asked the post in Islamabad to have a look at the case, to ask for additional information. That’s happened and the visas have been approved,” he told Sky News.
“I’m hopeful that they can arrive in Australia soon and spend some time with their terminally ill son and brother. I think that’s what most Australians would expect.”
Asif cried when he heard the news. “There were tears all round when his brother called Hassan, the family are thrilled and delighted to be able to come Australia,” Melbourne City Mission’s Sherri Bruinhout told Fairfax Media. “When we heard the news everyone was crying.”
