ICJ Orders Pakistan To Give India Consular Access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, Stays Death Sentence Given To The Indian National, Calls For Review Of His Conviction

The Hague, July 17: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday pronounced its verdict in the high-profile case involving Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. The ICJ granted consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. The death penalty of Jadhav also remain suspended.  The UN court asked Pakistan to review Jadhav's conviction. The international court ruling in favour of India by 15 votes to one, granted consular access to the former Indian Naval officer. Kulbhushan Jadhav Latest Video Claimed to Be Fake: Pakistan Releases Clip of Indian National After Return of His Mother and Wife.

However, the UN court rejected India's argument to nullify the decision of the Pakistan Military court of Jadhav's conviction. In the plea filed in the international court, India sought the release of Jadhav and his safe passage to India.

Jadhav, an Indian national, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism after a closed trial in April 2017. His sentencing evoked a sharp reaction in India. The President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf read out the verdict during a public sitting at 3 pm (6.30 pm IST) on Wednesday at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

The verdict in the case comes nearly five months after a 15-member bench of ICJ led by Judge Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete. On Tuesday, Pakistan’s legal team, headed by Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan reached The Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICJ is headquartered. Kulbhushan Jadhav Verdict by ICJ Live Streaming: Watch Online Telecast of Pronouncement of Judgment on India vs Pakistan Legal Battle

Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav

Kulbhushan, the 49-year-old Indian national is a retired Indian Navy officer whose death sentence by a Pakistani military court based on an “extracted confession” has been questioned by India.

India Approached ICJ against Pakistan

India had approached the ICJ against Pakistan “for egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963” in the matter. According to reports, India has contended that it had not been informed of Jadhav’s detention until long after his arrest and that Pakistan had failed to inform the accused of his rights. India further alleged that in violation of the Vienna Convention the authorities of Pakistan had denied India its right of consular access to Jadhav, despite repeated requests. India Sends Note Verbale to Pak, Seeks Repatriation of 10 Prisoners, Consular Access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.

India Says Kulbhushan Jadhav Kidnapped from Iran

India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Pakistan had rejected India’s plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information gathered by its “spy”.

Pakistan Says its Security Forces Arrested Jadhav From Balochistan

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.

In December 2017, Pakistan had allowed Jadhav’s mother Avanti and wife Chetna to meet him on 'humanitarian grounds'. India, however, said the Pakistan created an “intimidating” atmosphere where Jadhav’s mother and wife were “harassed” and were asked to change their attire as well as remove their mangalsutra, bindis and bangles. 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2019 06:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).