India on Thursday charged Pakistan with blocking all avenues for remedy in Kulbhushan Jadhav case and said it adopted a “farcical” approach in granting consular access.
This strong statement came after Jadhav was denied consular access and Islamabad said July 20 was the last date for filing review petition by Jadhav against death sentence given to him.
Making New Delhi’s stand clear, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India had requested Pakistan 12 times for consular access to Jadhav and Islamabad has not provided “unhindered and unimpeded access”.
Srivastava also said Pakistan adopted a “farcical approach” in handling the case, adding India is exploring available options in the matter.
“Pakistan has blocked all avenues for effective remedy available to India. It stands in violation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment and its own Ordinance. India reserves its position, including right to avail of further remedies,” the Ministry said on the Pakistan Government moving Islamabad High Court to appoint lawyer for Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The MEA Spokesperson further said India tried to file a review petition on July 18 for Jadhav but the lawyer appointed by India was told he has no “power of attorney.”
Pakistan had earlier this month said July 20 is the last date of filing a review petition by Jadhav against the death sentence awarded by a Pakistani military court.
The 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.
India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence. The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an “effective review and reconsideration” of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.
The Pakistan Government has claimed that Jadhav refused to file a review petition or an application to reconsider the verdict. Pakistan enacted the “International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance 2020” on May 20 under which a petition for the review of a military court’s decision can be made to Islamabad High Court through an application within 60 days of its promulgation.
Srivastava said India already shared its concerns to Pakistan in June knowing the “inadequacies and shortcomings” in the Ordinance.