New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday slammed Pakistan’s dirty tricks over Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer facing death row on spying charges.
Replying to Pakistan’s assertions that Kulbhushan Jadhav has refused to file review petition and wants to appeal for mercy, the MEA said, “it is a “continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years.”
“Kulbhushan Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of
Pakistan’s military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case,” the MEA said.
“In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the Ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Shri Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the ICJ,” it further said.
What Pak Attorney General told media about Jadhav
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Additional Attorney General told press, “On June 17, 2020, Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav was invited to file a petition for review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction. Exercising his legal right, he refused to file a petition for review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction.”
It may be noted that International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its verdict last year, directed Pakistan to allow consular access and effectively review the death sentence. The court also pulled up Pakistan govt for breaching international law by not granting consular access.
MEA’s Full Statement:
We have been pursuing through diplomatic channels full and effective implementation of the ICJ judgment in the case of Shri Kulbhushan Jadhav. The media statement made by Pakistan today in the case seeks to mask its continuing reticence to implement ICJ judgment in letter and spirit.
Pakistan’s claim that Shri Jadhav, who is incarcerated in Pakistan’s custody, has refused to initiate review petition is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years. Shri Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistan’s military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case. India sought unimpeded access to Shri Jadhav to discuss his remedies under the Ordinance. In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the Ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Shri Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the ICJ.
Pakistan has on 20 May 2020 passed an Ordinance to allow for the High Court to review the sentence awarded by their military court. They have all along maintained that their laws allowed for effective review and reconsideration while we have protested it all along. Now, after almost a year, they have made a u-turn and issued an Ordinance to ostensibly provide for some sort of review. We have already expressed our serious concerns at the content of the Ordinance and how it violates the ICJ judgment. Pakistan is only seeking to create an illusion of remedy.
Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Shri Jadhav. India has repeatedly asked to allow a lawyer from outside Pakistan to appear for Shri Jadhav in any review and reconsideration proceedings. Pakistan has denied it. Since 2017, when Military Court carried out a farcical trial, Pakistan has refused to hand over any relevant document, including FIR, evidence, court order, etc in the case to India. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment.
ICJ has already held that Pakistan is in egregious violation of international law. Government will do its utmost to protect Shri Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India. To that end, it would consider all appropriate options.
