Kulbhushan Jadhav case: ICJ did not rule on consular access, says Sartaj Aziz

“International Court of Justice has not given any order regarding consular access for Kulbhushan Jadhav,” Aziz was quoted saying by news agency PTI. “We will go with a strong team in the next hearing,” he told reporters. Aziz had previously said a new team of lawyers will be constituted to “present Pakistan’s stance vigorously”. Describing Jadhav as “an officer in the Indian Navy who has also admitted to carrying out espionage activities in Pakistan”, Aziz said he was sentenced in accordance with the laws of Pakistan.

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Reacting to the interim verdict delivered two days ago by the top UN court, Pakistan had said it would provide ‘solid evidence’ against Jadhav in the court. It claimed Jadhav had confessed, on two occasions, to sabotage, terrorism and subversive activities. Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said India tried to divert global attention by presenting the case from a humanitarian angle, and that the country’s ‘real face’ will be exposed before the world.

Separately, Pakistan’s Punjab Province Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the country will accept the court’s decision. “We will accept the decision of ICJ on Kulbhushan,” Sanaullah said in the Punjab Assembly. He added, “Although Kulbhushan’s case does not fall in the jurisdiction of the ICJ but Pakistan accepts its decision”.

Read: Pakistan in turmoil after ICJ ‘defeat’

A 11-member bench of the ICJ, the judicial arm of the United Nations, had unanimously ruled in favour of India’s petition. It directed Pakistan to ‘take all measures at its disposal’ to ensure Jadhav is not executed pending its final judgement.