Pakistan Assembly Adopts Bill To Give Right Of Appeal To Kulbhushan Jadhav

This move will allow Jadhav, who was sentenced to death in 2017 by a military court in Pakistan on charges of espionage and terrorism, to appeal his conviction in the high courts of the country.

(File Photo)

Islamabad: The Pakistan National Assembly on Thursday adopted the bill to give the right of appeal to Indian prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav as per the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This move will allow Jadhav, who was sentenced to death in 2017 by a military court in Pakistan on charges of espionage and terrorism, to appeal his conviction in the high courts of the country.

“Pakistan Assembly has approved "International Court of Justice (Review & Re-consideration) Ordinance, 2020”. This will allow Kulbhushan Jadhav to appeal his conviction in the high courts of the country,” ANI reported the Pakistan media as saying.

Earlier in April, Pakistan had called on the Indian side to cooperate with its courts and appoint a counsel for Jadhav to implement the ICJ judgment.

“The Indian side is once again urged to take the necessary steps, including the appointment of a legal counsel to represent Commander Jadhav in the case, so that legal proceedings could be duly concluded and full effect could be given to the judgment of the ICJ,” IANS quoted Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri as saying.

This came following the ICJ judgment on July 17, 2019, cancelling Jadhav’s death sentence and calling for a trial into the allegations against him in the civilian court.

The ICJ had not accepted the death sentence handed over by a military court in Pakistan to Jadhav.

Pakistan had earlier maintained it is abiding by the ICJ judgment and has filed a case in the Islamabad High Court.

Questioning the High Court’s decision to appoint a defence counsel in the case, the Indian High Commission, has, however, challenged the case.

The Indian High Commission has contested that the High Court is not proceeding as per the ICJ requirements.