Family members of a terminally ill Pakistani student have been granted visas to visit him in Melbourne.
25-year-old Hassan Asif has been told he has just weeks to live.
His mother and brother were initially refused entry to Australia, but the Immigration Department has now overturned the decision and is issuing them with temporary visas.
Zara Zaher reports.
Pakistani student Hassan Asif has had his dying wish granted.
Hassan came to Melbourne on a student visa last year, but last month his doctors told him he has just weeks to live after being diagnosed with advanced skin cancer.
The Immigration Department initially rejected applications for temporary visas for Mr Asif's mother and brother to visit him because it was not satisfied they would comply with the conditions.
However, after public backlash over the case, the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton contacted Australian officials in Islamabad to review the case.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Dutton confirmed the visas have now been approved.
"I asked the Department or the post in Islamabad to have a look at the case, to ask for additional information. That's happened and the visas have been issued so I'm hopeful that they can arrive in Australia soon, spend some time with their terminally ill son and brother and I think that's what most Australians would expect."
Hassan Asif's brother has spoken of his joy at Australia's decision to approve their visas.
From Pakistan, Ramiz Asif told SBS Radio's Urdu language program he thinks Hassan's health might even improve after seeing his family.
(Translated) "My mother started crying out of joy because it has been almost two years since we have met each other. We are very excited and happy. My brother will get better as soon as he sees us."
Hassan Asif had come to Melbourne last year in the hope of completing a degree in architecture.
He's now staying at the Melbourne City Mission's refuge for homeless youth.
After months of treatment, doctors told Hassan his body wasn't responding.
Earlier this week, he spoke to SBS about his situation.
"My family was really shocked about it. Because they wanted me to get a life here, in Australia, to work and to study, and this happened -- and they're shocked."
Speaking to the ABC, Melbourne City Mission's Sherri Bruinhout described Hassan's reaction.
"He is over the moon. It was a terrible day last Friday when he heard the decision that the Immigration Department had denied the visa and he was absolutely devastated as was his family so you can imagine the absolute delight when the news came through that the visa had been issued and there were lots of tears all around...Tears of happiness."
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