New Delhi (NVI): India tonight said the consular access given by Pakistan to Kulbhushan Jadhav early in the day was not “unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional”, thus violating the commitment Islamabad had given to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In a statement issued after the second consular access given to Jadhav who is on death row in Pakistan on charges of espionage, External Affairs Ministry said Jadhav was “visibly under stress” when two Consular Officers of Indian High Commission went to meet him in Islamabad.
On the contrary, Pakistani officials with an intimidating demeanour were present in close proximity of Jadhav and Consular Officers despite the protests of the Indian side, MEA said.
“It was also evident from a camera that was visible that the conversation with Shri Jadhav was being recorded,” it added.
“Jadhav himself was visibly under stress and indicated that clearly to the Consular Officers. The arrangements did not permit a free conversation between them. The Consular Officers could not engage Jadhav on his legal rights and were prevented from obtaining his written consent for arranging his legal representation,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.
“In the light of these circumstances, the Indian Consular Officers came to the conclusion that the consular access being offered by Pakistan was neither meaningful nor credible. After lodging a protest, they left the venue,” MEA said.
It said that it is clear that Pakistan’s approach to this matter continues to be “obstructive and insincere”.
“It has not only violated its assurance to the ICJ to fully implement the 2019 judgment, but also failed to act in accordance with its own Ordinance,” it said.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has apprised Jadhav’s family of these developments. “We reiterate our commitment to ensure the safe return of Shri Jadhav to India and will decide on a future course of action in the light of the events today,” MEA added.
Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it has provided second consular access to Jadhav.
“Pakistan provided second consular access to Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav at the Indian request today. Two consular officers of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad were provided unimpeded and uninterrupted consular access to Commander Jadhav at 1500 hours,” Pakistan MOFA said in a statement.
The development comes two days ahead of a deadline to file a review petition in Jadhav’s cases at the Islamabad High Court is set to expire.
To recall, an ordinance was promulgated by the Pakistan Government on May 20 this year, which allowed the Indian Government, Jadhav and his legal representatives to file a review petition in IHC within 60 days.
On July 8, India had slammed Pakistan over its claims that Jadhav has refused to review petition in his case. The Ministry of external affairs said that Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a “farcical trial”. The MEA’s reaction came hours after Pakistan had said that Jadhav has refused to file a review petition and wants to proceed with his pending mercy petition.
The next day, on July 9, India said that it is assessing options to protect the former Navy officer. “At this stage, we are assessing our legal options. We will do our utmost to protect the life of the Indian national,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava had said.
Earlier, Pakistan had also claimed that it has offered a second round of consular access to the 49-year-old Indian Navy officer, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017.
Just weeks after the sentence, India had approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.
