ICJ Hearing on Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: India Calls For Civilian Court Trial, Pakistan to Make Closing Arguments Today

Mittal requested the top UN court to declare that Pakistan acted in breach of Article 36 of Vienna Convention, failed to inform Jadhav of his rights and declined consular access to him.

Published: February 21, 2019 8:38 AM IST

By India.com News Desk

ICJ Hearing on Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: India Calls For Civilian Court Trial, Pakistan to Make Closing Arguments Today
Kulbhushan Jadhav - File Photo

The Hague: Two days after India urged the ICJ to annul Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence by a Pakistani military court and order his immediate release, New Delhi on Wednesday told the court that it could at least direct Islamabad to hold the trial in a “civilian court” and grant him all legal recourse, including consular access.

Making the final arguments for India at the International Court of Justice, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs Deepak Mittal said: “Annul the decision of the military court and restrain Pakistan from giving effect to the (death) sentence. Release Jadhav and ensure his safe passage to India. If not, then direct a trial under normal law before civilian courts with full consular access.”

Mittal requested the top UN court to declare that Pakistan acted in breach of Article 36 of Vienna Convention, failed to inform Jadhav of his rights and declined consular access to him.

“India requests this court to adjudge and declare that Pakistan acted in egregious breach of Article 36 of Vienna Convention,” he said.

India questioned the functioning of Pakistan’s notorious military courts and urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to annul Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence, which is based on an “extracted confession”.

Harish Salve, who was representing India in the case, cited the example of how Ajmal Kasab, the lone 26/11 Pakistani attacker caught alive, was given legal options, including a Supreme Court hearing.

He also cited Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s interview to a newspaper in which he acknowledged his country’s role in the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed by 10 LeT terrorists.

“This interview has not been denied,” Salve said.

On Pakistan’s military courts, he said the International Commission of Jurists and European Parliament have criticised their functioning and added that anything diluting provisions of Vienna Convention must fail.

“Jadhav’s trial was completed in 4-6 months or weeks…What happened to more than 150 people killed in the Mumbai terror attacks?” Salve asked as he raked up the Ajmal Kasab case to highlight the meaning of judicial review.

“In Kasab case, the LeT terrorist who was apprehended and caught red handed by brave police officers, the Supreme Court of India examined materials on record first-hand since it was the case of death sentence. This is called review,” he said.

On Pakistan’s argument that India did not provide proof of Jadhav’s nationality, Salve said Pakistan had no doubt when it arrested Jadhav that he was an Indian national.

India moved the ICJ in May 2017 for the “egregious violation” of the provisions of the Vienna Convention by Pakistan by repeatedly denying New Delhi consular access to Jadhav.

The four-day hearing in the Jadhav case opened Monday amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group that killed 40 CRPF soldiers. Pakistan will make the closing arguments on Thursday.

The ICJ is expected to deliver its verdict in the summer of 2019.

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