Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence: ICJ to pronounce verdict today at 3.30 pm

On April 10, Kulbhushan Jadhav was given a death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged “espionage and subversive activities”. (Source: File Photo)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague will pronounce its verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case Thursday, three days after it heard arguments presented by India and Pakistan.

According to the ICJ, its verdict will be given around 3.30 pm (IST) Thursday. India has sought “annulment” of the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a military court in Pakistan. Islamabad has said the clemency process of 150 days should be exercised first and the plea citing urgency should be “dismissed”. Pakistan, which wanted to screen a video of Jadhav’s confession at the ICJ, was denied permission. However, its representative displayed a purported copy of Jadhav’s Indian passport, issued in the name of Hussein Mubarak Patel, on a screen inside the courtroom.

On April 10, Jadhav was given a death sentence by a Pakistani military court for alleged “espionage and subversive activities”. On May 8, India approached the ICJ for an urgent hearing, seeking suspension of the verdict.

Arguing before the ICJ, India’s counsel Harish Salve stressed that not granting consular access and not giving legal representation of Jadhav’s choosing amounted to “violation” of his right to defend himself from “concocted” charges in a “farcical trial”.