Logo

Logo

Don’t hang Kulbhushan Jadhav, rules ICJ

Overruling Pakistan's objections, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday said that Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot be executed…

Don’t hang Kulbhushan Jadhav, rules ICJ

Kulbhushan Jadhav (PHOTO: Twitter)

Overruling Pakistan's objections, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday said that Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot be executed before 'the final decision'.

The verdict came 10 days after India approached the UN's top court for "provisional measure" of protection — an interim relief — in the Jadhav case.

Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the court, reading out the court verdict also asked Pakistan to inform it of all the measures it has taken to implement the order.

Advertisement

India on Monday had sought the court's intervention for an immediate suspension of Jadhav's death sentence, fearing that the Indian national may be executed even before the ICJ decided the case.

In a public hearing on Monday, India accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by denying consular access to Jadhav and pronouncing him guilty of espionage in a "farcical trial".

The Indian legal team represented by Deepak Mittal, who heads the Pakistan division of External Affairs Ministry, demanded immediate annulment of Jadhav's death sentence amid fears that he may be executed even before the world court pronounced its decision.

Pakistan, however, rejected the Indian argument on the ground that New Delhi had no right to invoke the jurisdiction of the ICJ and that the Vienna Convention does not provide for matters relating to spies, terrorists and those who indulge in espionage.

Jadhav was awarded the death sentence by a Pakistan military court in April, a year after he was arrested on espionage charges. 

Islamabad has rejected 16 Indian requests for consular access to the former Indian Navy officer, held at an unknown prison in Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

Advertisement