After ICJ verdict, Pakistan finally offers consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav: Reports

Days after crucial verdict by the International Court of Justice, Pakistan will finally grant consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav tomorrow. Various Pakistani media reports suggest that official communication has already been sent from Islamabad to New Delhi. The decision comes after the ICJ verdict on July 19 that ordered the Pakistani administration to reconsider the death sentence awarded to Jadhav and grant consular access to the former Indian Navy official.

After the verdict, Pakistan had issued a statement in which it said, “Pursuant to the decision of the ICJ, Commander Kulbushan Jadhav has been informed of his rights under Article 36, Paragraph 1(b) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations." The statement further added the operative part that India has been demanding since the time Jadhav was arrested. "As a responsible state, Pakistan will grant consular access to Commander Kulbushan Jadhav according to Pakistani laws, for which modalities are being worked out," it said. The retired Indian Navy officer was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" in April 2017.

Despite massive embarrassment at the International Court of Justice in connection with the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Pakistan remains adamant in its approach. It was evident form the tweet of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said that Kulbhushan Jadhav was guilty of crimes against people of Pakistan. He also highlighted the ‘fact’ that the ICJ had not ‘acquitted’ Jadhav. “Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release & return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law,” Khan said on micro-blogging site. Khan’s tweet mirrors the statement made by Pakistan’s foreign ministry shortly after the verdict, which directed Pakistan to grant consular access to KJadhav. The verdict had also asked Islamabad to reconsider the death penalty.

The Foreign Office in a statement said Pakistan as a “responsible member” of the international community “upheld its commitment” from the very beginning of the case by appearing before the court for the provisional measures hearing despite a very short notice. “Having heard the judgment, Pakistan will now proceed as per law,” the statement said. The statement claimed that the Hague-based ICJ in its judgment did not accept India’s plea to “acquit/release” Jadhav. The Foreign Office reiterated that Jadhav entered Pakistan “without a visa on authentic Indian Passport with a fake alias Hussain Mubarak Patel”.

Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" after a closed trial in April 2017. His sentencing evoked a sharp reaction in India. Reading out the verdict, President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ordered an "effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav". The verdict went India's way by a resounding 15 votes to one.

However, despite massive embarrassment at the International Court of Justice in connection with the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Pakistan remains adamant in its approach. It was evident form the tweet of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said that Kulbhushan Jadhav was guilty of crimes against people of Pakistan. He also highlighted the ‘fact’ that the ICJ had not ‘acquitted’ Jadhav. “Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release & return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law,” Khan said on micro-blogging site. Khan’s tweet mirrors the statement made by Pakistan’s foreign ministry shortly after the verdict, which directed Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav. The verdict had also asked Islamabad to reconsider the death penalty.

Making a statement in both houses of Parliament on the ICJ judgement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said, "Pakistan was found to have deprived India of the right to communicate with Jadhav, have access to him, visit him in detention and arrange his legal representation"."Kulbhushan Jadhav is innocent of the charges made against him. His forced confession without legal representation and due process will not change this reality," he said. "We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate him forthwith," the minister said.

Despite massive embarrassment at the International Court of Justice in connection with the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Pakistan remains adamant in its approach. It was evident form the tweet of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said that Kulbhushan Jadhav was guilty of crimes against people of Pakistan. He also highlighted the ‘fact’ that the ICJ had not ‘acquitted’ Jadhav. “Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release & return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law,” Khan said on micro-blogging site. Khan’s tweet mirrors the statement made by Pakistan’s foreign ministry shortly after the verdict, which directed Pakistan to grant consular access to KJadhav. The verdict had also asked Islamabad to reconsider the death penalty.

The Foreign Office in a statement said Pakistan as a “responsible member” of the international community “upheld its commitment” from the very beginning of the case by appearing before the court for the provisional measures hearing despite a very short notice. “Having heard the judgment, Pakistan will now proceed as per law,” the statement said. The statement claimed that the Hague-based ICJ in its judgment did not accept India’s plea to “acquit/release” Jadhav. The Foreign Office reiterated that Jadhav entered Pakistan “without a visa on authentic Indian Passport with a fake alias Hussain Mubarak Patel”.

Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" after a closed trial in April 2017. His sentencing evoked a sharp reaction in India. Reading out the verdict, President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ordered an "effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav". The verdict went India's way by a resounding 15 votes to one.

However, despite massive embarrassment at the International Court of Justice in connection with the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Pakistan remains adamant in its approach. It was evident form the tweet of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said that Kulbhushan Jadhav was guilty of crimes against people of Pakistan. He also highlighted the ‘fact’ that the ICJ had not ‘acquitted’ Jadhav. “Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release & return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law,” Khan said on micro-blogging site. Khan’s tweet mirrors the statement made by Pakistan’s foreign ministry shortly after the verdict, which directed Pakistan to grant consular access to KJadhav. The verdict had also asked Islamabad to reconsider the death penalty.

Making a statement in both houses of Parliament on the ICJ judgement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "Pakistan was found to have deprived India of the right to communicate with Jadhav, have access to him, visit him in detention and arrange his legal representation"."Kulbhushan Jadhav is innocent of the charges made against him. His forced confession without legal representation and due process will not change this reality," he said. "We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate him forthwith," the minister said.