New Delhi, February 18: The hearing for the Kulbhushan Jadhav case will begin in The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, Netherlands, amid the growing tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack. Jadhav is a former officer of the Indian Navy who is in jail in Pakistan on espionage charges. International Court of Justice to Hear Kulbhushan Jadhav's Case from February 18-21.
The court has set a timetable for public hearing in the matter from February 18 to 21. Pakistan’s delegation would be led by Attorney General Anwar Mansoor whereas Director General South Asia Dr Mohammad Faisal will lead the Foreign Office side. Pakistan to Present Strong Case Against Kulbhushan Jadhav: Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
From the Indian side, advocate Harish Salve is representing Kulbhushan Jadhav and New Delhi. Harish Salve, who represents New Delhi, is expected to argue first on February 18, 2019.
India will reply on February 20 while Islamabad will make its closing submissions on February 21. The ICJ is expected to deliver the decision by the summer of 2019.
Jadhav, 48, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism on April 11, 2017, following which India moved the ICJ and challenge the verdict. Subsequently, on May 18, 2017, a 10-member bench of ICJ restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till the adjudication of the case.
“India will present its case before the court. Since the matter is sub-judice, it is not appropriate for me to state our position in public. Whatever we have to do, we will do at the court,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi last week in response to a question in this regard.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2019 09:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).