Islamabad: Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan on Thursday appreciated the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to neither acquit nor release Kulbhushan Jadhav in relation to the espionage case.
On July 17, the ICJ found that India’s submission pertaining to the acquittal and release of Kulbhushan Jadhav could not be upheld.
PM Imran posted on Twitter about the ICJ decision on Indian spy Jadhav, saying he was guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan and the country will proceed as per the law in this regard.
“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.”
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The International Court of Justice ordered Pakistan on Wednesday to review the death sentence for an alleged Indian spy, in a ruling hailed by nuclear rival New Delhi as a “complete victory”.
Former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Baluchistan in March 2016, and the case has stoked tensions between the two countries.
Though India succeeded in securing a stay on the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav, its argument to annul the military court verdict was not accepted. The Indian side also sought a direction to Pakistan for providing a safe passage for Kulbhushan Jadhav to return home.
The ICJ ruled, it is not the conviction and sentence of Mr Jadhav which are to be regarded as a violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention.
Thus, the court finds that these submissions made by India cannot be upheld, reads the judgment of the ICJ.
Judges at the UN’s top court ruled Pakistan had breached the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which gives countries the right to consular access when their nationals are arrested abroad.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry indicated it would comply with the court’s decision. “Pakistan, as a responsible member of the International community, upheld its commitment from the very beginning of the case by appearing before the honorable court for the provisional measures hearing despite a very short notice,” the ministry said in a written statement. “Having heard the judgment, Pakistan will now proceed as per law.”
“This is a clear, clear win for Pakistan,” Pakistani Attorney-General Anwar Mansoor Khan told reporters outside the courtroom. “Pakistan has in fact been very clear from the outset that they will consider the review and reconsideration.”
Meantime, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that “we welcome today’s verdict.”
“Truth and justice have prevailed,” Modi said. “Congratulations to the ICJ for a verdict based on extensive study of facts. I am sure Kulbhushan Jadhav will get justice.”
Jadhav, 48, was sentenced to death by a closed Pakistani military court in 2017 on charges of “espionage, sabotage and terrorism”
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