Update on the Jhadav case
Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria recently reported that India’s Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed submitting its pleadings to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with regard to the spy Jhadav controversy. On September 15, 2017 Pakistan received these written pleadings and is expected to submit counter-arguments within two months.
The pleadings are being assessed by Attorney General Ashtar Ausuf, along with a team of qualified lawyers and legal experts. Zakaria added that Pakistan will send in its counter-arguments to the UN Court soon. These are likely to mention the espionage and acts of terrorism committed by Jadhav in Pakistan. The deadline for Pakistan to submit its arguments is December 13, 2017.
Previously, India blamed Pakistan for acting in contravention of the Vienna Convention by denying Jadhav consular access. India requested the Court to suspend Jadhav’s death sentence in response to which the Court stayed his execution. India also claimed that Pakistan failed to inform the appropriate Indian authorities of Jhadav’s arrest and that news of his detention came “long after his arrest…”
The Court, during a hearing in May, ruled that Pakistan could not convict or declare a death sentence to Jadhav until the Court had reached its final decision. The final verdict is to come after pleadings from both sides are evaluated.
