Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale today met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and demanded a copy of the verdict awarding death sentence to former navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav .
Besides, Gautam also demanded consular access to Jadhav which he said is a country’s rights to get in touch with its citizen arrested in foreign shores. This was the 14 attempt from New Delhi to seek consular access to Jadhav who was kidnapped from Iran last year.
Pakistan has rejected 13 of India's requests for the same in the last one year.
"I have asked for a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav," he told reporters.
"Pakistan has denied our request for consular access 13 times. I have again requested the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to give access to Jadhav so that we can appeal," he added.
Apart from diplomatic options, India has said that it will also explore legal remedies permitted under Pakistan legal system including Jadhav's family appealing against the verdict.
India had yesterday said that it was engaged in efforts to bring back Jadhav, who it reiterated is innocent of the charges hurled at him.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay also had said that New Delhi has no knowledge of where Jadhav has been kept in Pakistan or his condition due to Islamabad's refusal to provide consular access to him.
"We are engaged in the efforts (for his release)... I won't like to speculate on the steps about the future at this stage, or who we will talk to and who will not talk to," he said.
According to the MEA, India had made 13 requests to Pakistan till April 10 for consular access to Jadhav, but Islamabad denied each of them.
