A Pakistani high court on September 2 has directed the Federal government to give India another chance on Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has urged the government to appoint a lawyer to represent death-row prisoner Jadhav.
A Pakistani military court has given a death sentence to Jadhav. However, the IHC wants the military court to give Jadhav another chance.
Jadhav is a 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer. The Pakistani military court has given the death sentence to Jadhav. He was charged with ‘espionage and terrorism’ in April 2017.
According to Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan, the court must comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Pakistan has given consular access to India. However, India has still not given any reply to Pakistan’s offer to appoint a lawyer for Jadhav.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has adjourned the hearing of Jadhav’s case until October 3. On October 3, the IHC will hear Jadhav’s case again.
As per ICJ order, Pakistan introduced a special law to review Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence. India approached ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav. India also challenged the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The Hague-based ICJ ruled that Pakistan must undertake ‘effective review and reconsideration’ on the conviction and sentence of Jadhav. According to ICJ, Pakistan must also grant consular access to India without further delay.
However, Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province on March 3, 2016. But, India claims that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.