Unconditional access demanded to KULBHUSHAN JADHAV: India asks Pakistan
Who is Kulbhusan Jadhav??
Kulbhushan Jadhav served India as a naval officer and the Indian government recognized him as the same (former naval officer) and as per records he took premature retirement. But the government of India denies any current link with him. He was arrested in Balochistan located in Pakistan on charges of terrorism and spying for Research and Analysis Wing (India’s intelligence agency). “Kidnapped last year from Iran and his subsequent presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly,” said the Indian foreign ministry on the 10th of April, 2017. A Field General Court in Pakistan sentenced him to death on the same day. The International Court of Justice, on the 18th of May of the same year, kept its final judgment and execution of the case pending. India’s appeal for Jadhav’s release was rejected on the 17th of July, 2019, and Pakistan was ordered to suspend the execution by the court. Pakistan was asked to review the entire process of conviction and trial of Kulbhushan and the country also had to provide consular access to India. For once, Pakistan did allow consular access to India but the subsequent request was blocked.
India asks access to Jadhav
Today, a news agency reported that unconditional access to Kulbushan Jadhav has been asked by India to Pakistan. It has been claimed by Pakistan that Jadhav has refused to file a review plea and to that India alleges that he has been pressurized to do so.
Legal options in the Kulbhushan Jadhav related case are being assessed by India. Jadhav is on the death row in Pakistan and India claims it is very much committed to protecting Indian nationals’ life.
It was previously claimed by Pakistan that Kulbhushan, who is a former Indian Navy Officer has refused to commence the review petition of his conviction and sentence. During a media briefing, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Anurag Srivastava said that “We had pointed out how Pakistan’s claim that Kulbhusan Jadhav has refused to initiate a review petition, is a continuation of the farce playing out for the last four years. We are assessing our legal options and we remain committed to protecting the life of our Indian nationals.”
Pakistan claimed that Kulbhushan has refused to file an appeal against his conviction in IHC i.e. Islamabad High Court. India has dismissed this claim and stated that the Indian National has been compelled to let go of his rights to seek the implementation of the judgment of the International Court of Justice by Islamabad.
To discuss Jadhav’s remedies under the Ordinance that permitted the High Court to review the sentence given by Pakistan’s military court, India sought unrestricted access to Jadhav. Mr. Anurag said in the statement that Pakistan has claimed that Kulbhushan, who is imprisoned in that nation’s custody has denied initiating review petition is a slapstick the country is playing for the last 4 years. He has been sentenced to execution through a preposterous trial. He is still under the custody of Pakistan’s military. Clearly, he has been compelled to refuse the filing of review in his case.
On 3rd March of 2016, he was reputedly arrested from Pakistan security from Balochistan. It was done after Islamabad claimed that he ostensibly entered Pakistan from Iran. the allegations about his involvement in subversive activities and spying which was put by Pakistan were all rejected by India. It is said that he was abducted from the Iranian port of Chabahar. He was running a business there.
Anurag Srivastava in the end said that “Since 2017, when Military Court carried out a facial trial, Pakistan has refused to hand over any relevant document, including FIR, evidence, court order, etc. in the case to India. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment.”
