AGP says govt is willing to make offer again
DLP REPORT
ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday ordered the government to make another offer to India to appoint a lawyer for spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by a military court in April 2017 over spying and subversive activities in Pakistan.
On July 22, the government had filed a petition in the Islamabad HC requesting for appointment of legal representative for Commander Jadhav. Hearing the government’s plea, a two-member special bench comprising Islamabad HC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said that another chance should be given to the Indian government for arranging a lawyer. Attorney General (AG) of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan assured the court that the government was ready to make the offer again, and will contact India in this regard through the foreign office.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, the AG said that the court has not considered yet whether Indian lawyers will be allowed to represent Jadhav or assist the Pakistani legal team.
On July 17, Pakistan had offered Indian spy consular access for the third time following Indian diplomats’ protest to meet him in presence of a guard.
New Delhi blames Pakistan for not seriously allowing for an effective review of Jadhav’s case and vows that it reserves its right to go for further remedies.
During the proceedings, Justice Minallah asked the AG to brief the court about the history of the case. The AG stated that spy Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 for entering Pakistan illegally. “Jadhav confessed to his links with RAW, and his involvement in espionage and terror activities in Pakistan. He was convicted by a military court that sentenced him to death in 2017, and his appeal for mercy is pending before the Chief of Army Staff,” the AG told the court.
In 2017, the AG said, India approached the International Court of Justice and claimed that Jadhav was denied consular access. “The ICJ issued a restraining order on the death sentence that is applicable till date,” he said.
In July 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had ruled that Pakistan must grant consular access to India without any delay and at the same called for the “effective review and reconsideration” of Jadhav’s case.
Before adjourning the case till September 3, the chief justice said the court wants to make Indian government and Khulbhushan part of the case.
