The Congress on Thursday welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) staying the execution of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and appealed to the Government to ensure justice to him and his return to India.
While senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the case against Jadhav a sham, former External Affairs Minister Anand Sharma said it is a matter of great relief for all the people of India.
“The case against Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan was a sham and was in gross violation of international law as his execution was ordered by a kangaroo court without consular access. It is appreciated that the World Court saw reason in the Indian appeal,” Azad said. The leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha also appreciated the fact that the ICJ had turned down Pakistan's request that it be allowed to play a purported confessional video at the hearing.
Azad congratulated the Indian team which represented the country at The Hague and stressed that the Government should "leave no stone unturned" to ensure justice for Jadhav and his return. "We were worried. The ICJ orders must be respected by Pakistan. Pakistan's argument before the ICJ and its refusal to accept its jurisdiction betrays a mindset of disrespect to the Vienna Convention which Pakistan has brazenly violated,” Sharma said.
“We hope that the Government of India will continue to mount that pressure because it is the first stage. We have to ensure that Jadhav's life is saved and only when he returns home, we will celebrate. Right now, it is a big relief, first step and we hope that Pakistan respects that order,” he added.
Former Union Minister and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal offered to support in legal matters to the family of Jadhav. "Welcome this decision. Manner in which they (Pakistan) have conducted the trial is not the appropriate way. Once India gets consular access, there will be right of appeal, any assistance is needed, I will be happy to help Kulbhushan family,” Sibal said.