Vic: Lawyers urge Attorney General to take action
MELBOURNE, April 9 AAP - Lawyers representing the family of a Melbourne man in detentionin Pakistan today urged Attorney General Daryl Williams to intervene in the case.
Lawyers from Robert Stary and Associates used federal Attorney General Daryl Williams'address to the Law Institute of Victoria to question the minister on what action he wouldtake in the case of former Melbourne taxi driver `Jihad' Jack Thomas.
Peta Murphy of Robert Stary and Associates said Mr Thomas had been in detention inPakistan for 95 days without charge and without access to a lawyer.
"There have been reports recently that the Pakistanis intend to detain Mr Thomas foranother indefinite period," Ms Murphy said.
She said Australian diplomats in Pakistan had had no luck getting information fromthe Pakistani government about when Mr Thomas would be charged.
"When do you, as the first law officer of Australia and your office make representationto Pakistan on behalf of an Australian citizen to ask when he will be charged?" Ms Murphyasked Mr Williams.
Mr Williams said Mr Thomas was in detention under Pakistani law and was in the sameposition as any other Australian citizen arrested and detained under the law of anothercountry.
He said the government understood Pakistani authorities were continuing to investigatewhether Mr Thomas had committed offences under Pakistani law.
"As I understand he is being held in humane conditions and he is in good health," MrWilliams said.
Mr Williams was also asked what the government was doing to bring home two Australianprisoners being held by the US Government at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
He said the situation of Adelaide man David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib of Sydney, whowere arrested in conflict in Afghanistan, was different to that of Mr Thomas.
"I think the characterisation of them that's being made by those advocating they shouldbe freed or brought to Australia seems to rely on the rights that would pertain if someonewas accused of committing a criminal offence in a non-conflict situation."
Mr Williams was also presented with a petition from a representative of AustralianLawyers Against the War, signed by more than 200 lawyers expressing their opposition toAustralia's participation in what they consider to be an illegal war.
AAP clm/dk/kim/de
KEYWORD: THOMAS
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