Kulbhushan Jadhav Death Sentence Suspended By ICJ

New Delhi: In a big victory for India, former Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence by Pakistan has been suspended by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He has also been granted consular access.

The Court has asked Pakistan to review the case “effectively”.  The verdict was 15 to one in favour of India.

Jadhav was arrested in 2016 by Pakistan on charges of espionage and was sentenced to death a year later by the Pakistan military court.

India had termed the trial “farcical” and had challenged the ruling in ICJ.

According to media reports, ICJ in its ruling said that ‘Pakistan deprived India of the right to communicate with and have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav’ and in doing so, ‘breached obligations incumbent upon it under Vienna Convention’.

India had asserted that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. It had outrightly dismissed Pakistan’s charges that Jadhav was a spy and apprehended in the Balochistan province.

Reactions:

Soon after the verdict, celebrations broke across the country.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh:

“It is no doubt a big victory for India,” said Rajnath Singh on being questioned about ICJ asking Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav.

Former External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj: 

I wholeheartedly welcome the verdict of International Court of Justice in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. It is a great victory for India. “I hope the verdict will provide the much-needed solace to the family members of Kulbhushan Jadhav”.