Pakistan Government rejected India’s demand that a Queen counsel or an Indian lawyer should be appointed in Kulbhushan Jadhav case to ensure a free and fair trial.
The Islamabad High Court in Pakistan had directed the government of Pakistan to give India chance to appoint a lawyer to represent Jadhav and adjourned hearing for a month.
“Allowing a Queen’s Counsel for Jadhav is out of the question as only a lawyer with a license to practice in Pakistan can appear before the court,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri said at a press briefing.
Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said, “The Government of Pakistan has not been able to fulfil its obligations on implementation of the ICJ judgment in letter and spirit. It has not yet addressed the core issues, which includes the provision of all documents related to the case, providing unconditional and unimpeded consular access to Kulbhusan Jadhav and appointment of an Indian lawyer or a Queen’s counsel to ensure a free and fair trial,”.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had previously upheld India’s claim that Pakistan has committed a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
