New Delhi (NVI): India wants Kulbhushan Jadhav to be represented by an Indian lawyer for filing a review petition against his death sentence in Pakistan, in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgment that wants a free and fair trial of the former Indian Navy officer, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.
While addressing the weekly press briefing here, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India is in touch with Pakistan on the case through diplomatic channels. “For a free and fair trial in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgment, we have asked for Jadhav to be represented by an Indian lawyer,” he said.
The MEA spokesman said that Pakistan has to first address the core issues- giving copies of relevant documents of the case and providing unimpeded consular access to Jadhav.
In May, Pakistan had come up with an ordinance to implement the ICJ (International Court of Justice) verdict. Under the ordinance, India on behalf of Jadhav can file review for the case but despite that New Delhi wasn’t given legal document in the case nor power of attorney from Jadhav.
Under ICJ’s pressure, the Pakistan government had approached the Islamabad High Court on July 22 to appoint a legal representative for Jadhav.
On August 3, the Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing in Kulbushan Jadhav case till September 3, saying India should be given a chance to appoint a lawyer to defend the Navy officer.
Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017. India has rejected the charges and maintained that he was abducted from Iran where he had gone in connection with his business and false case has been foisted on him.
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.
-ARK
