Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: Pakistan may overrule International Court of Justice's order
According to a Dunya News report, Pakistan is going to overrule the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) stay on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence.
In Short
- Pakistan will overrule ICJ's order on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence, according to reports.
- Pakistan revised its commitment to the ICJ on March 29.
- India had approached the International Court of Justice on May 8 with its plea to stay Jadhav's execution.
According to a Dunya News report, Pakistan is going to deny the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Kulbhushan Jadhav case, an Indian national whom Pakistan has sentenced to death alleging espionage and sabotage in Pakistan.
The Dunya News report said, "Attorney General of Pakistan was reportedly briefed today over Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's issue and according to the sources, Pakistan will deny jurisdiction of International Court of Justice (ICJ) over cases that have Pakistan's national stability at stake."
According to the report, the briefing states, "Pakistan does not accept International Court's jurisdiction to order the state in issue that involves its national stability."
Another report of Daily Pakistan says, "Pakistan revised its commitment to the ICJ and has withdrawn all domestic and national security related issues from the jurisdiction of the court on March 29, thus making it impossible for Modi-led India to pin down Pakistan in this case."
The Daily Pakistan report further states that Pakistan, before handing over death sentence to Jadhav, had informed the ICJ about changes it made through its UN envoy Maleeha Lodhi.
"Disputes relating to or connected with any aspect of hostilities, armed conflicts, individual or collective self-defence or the discharge of any functions pursuant to any decision or recommendation of international bodies, the deployment of armed forces abroad, as well as action relating and ancillary thereto in which Pakistan is, has been or may in future be involved", the declaration by Pakistan read.
WHAT ICJ DID AFTER INDIA'S PLEA
India had approached the International Court of Justice on May 8 with its plea to stay Jadhav's execution till it hears the matter and reaches to any conclusion. India in its plea had accused Pakistan of "egregious violations" of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR).
Both India and Pakistan are signatory to VCCR. India had also requested consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav 16 times but Pakistan denied it every time.
After India's application, the ICJ, using its powers under the 'Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes of 24 April 1963' stayed Jadhav's execution.
The public hearing in the case by the ICJ would be held on May 15.
KULBHUSHAN JADHAV DEATH SENTENCE
On April 10, the Pakistan Army chief confirmed Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence, which was handed down by a Pakistan military court that held him guilty of espionage.
Pakistan claims Jadhav, who allegedly used the alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was related to India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
The Indian government has maintained that Kulbhushan Jadhav is a formal Indian Naval officer turned businessman who was on a routine business trip to Iran when he was abducted by Pakistani intelligence. Reports say he was captured by the Taliban and later sold to the Pakistan Army.
Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested by the Pakistan authorities in March this year.
Indian authorities added that Jadhav is innocent and there is no evidence against him and that Pakistan carried out a secret trial in a military court where no evidence was given.
Also read: 'Will send you Kulbhushan Jadhav's dead body': Hackers post message on AIFF website
Watch video: Pakistan not to attend ICJ hearing on Kulbhushan Jadhav: What happens in The Hague now?