Pakistan blocked all avenues for effective remedy in Kulbhushan Jadhav case, says MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that Pakistan has blocked all avenues for remedy in Kulbhushan Jhadav case. Addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastav said that India had requested Pakistan 12 times for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav and Islamabad has not provided "unhindered and unimpeded access". He 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 ICJ judgement and its own Ordinance. India reserves its position incl right to avail of further remedies," the MEA said on Pakistan government moving Islamabad High Court to appoint lawyer for Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The MEA spokesperson further said that India tried to file a review petition on July 18 for Kulbhushan Jadhav but the lawyer appointed by India was told he has no "power of attorney,"
"India has so far requested consular access 12 times over the past one year. However, Pakistan has so far not been able to provide an unimpeded consular access. The meeting of Consular Officers with Jadhav on July 16 was scuttled by Pakistan authorities. The Consular Officers were instructed not to hand over any document to Jadhav. Hence, the Indian Consular Officers could not obtain a Power of Attorney from Jadhav," said spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.
He said that India has repeatedly requested Pakistan for relevant documents related to the case of Jadhav and Pakistan advised India that the relevant documents could be handed over only to an authorised Pakistani lawyer.
"Thereafter, India appointed a Pakistani lawyer to obtain the relevant documents. To our surprise, as advised by the Pakistani authorities, when the authorised Pakistani lawyer approached the concerned authorities, they declined to handover the documents to the lawyer," he added.
Pakistan had earlier this month said July 20 is the last date of filing a review petition by Jadhav against the death sentence handed down to him 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 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.
