Kulbhushan Jadhav case witnesses another turn as Pakistan gives India a chance to represent Jadhav who has been sentenced to death on the grounds of espionage. The Islamabad High Court, on Monday, granted a chance to India to appoint an attorney to defend Kulbhushan Jadhav in next hearing which has been scheduled for September 3.
The court instructed that the lawyer, if appointed, should be a Pakistan national and should be authorized to practice law in Pakistan. “The court has said that if they want to change the lawyer or if the Indian government wants to engage a counsel themselves then they should be allowed to do it”, stated the Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan.
As reported by India Today, on of the Indian mission in Pakistan can engage an Indian lawyer, Khan answered, “Only Pakistani lawyers”. He further added, “Those entitled to practice in law in Pakistan will be allowed. Indian legal representative is not an option for now. Let’s see who they engage”.
The petition for this move was filed by Pakistan in the Islamabad High Court and the main parties, including the government of India, were not consulted or included for a discourse.
Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former naval officer, was arrested in 2016 by the Pakistan authorities on the grounds of espionage and and charges of terrorism. He was accused of allegedly spying in Pakistan on the behalf of India’s Research and Analysis Wing.
Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court in the country and ever since India has been trying its best to get Pakistan to retract the punishment or fight to bring Jadhav back to the country. Last month Indian officials fled to Pakistan after consular access being granted by the country. The Indian officials accused Pakistan of being “Obstructive and insincere” due to the country maintaining its “intimidating presence” throughout the meeting.
India accused Pakistan of not complying with the ordinance rolled out by the International Court of Justice which promised “unimpeded, uninterrupted and unconditional” consular access.
The decision to provide a lawyer to Jadhav was thus taken in accordance with the ordinance passed by the International Court at Hague.
