ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Friday categorically rejected the assertions madeby Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding legal proceedings as“incorrect and misleading” in case of Indian Naval Commander KulbhushanJadhav.
“It is evident that by casting aspersions on the Indian High Commission’sown legal Counsel, the Indian government is looking for an escape from thelegal proceedings in Commander Jadhav case,” Foreign Office spokespersonsaid in a statement.
He reminded the Indian government that in pursuance of the judgment ofInternational Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan had twice invited the IndianHigh Commission to meet with Commander Jadhav and appoint a lawyer on hisbehalf to commence the proceedings to review and reconsider his conviction.
However, he said during the course of diplomatic exchanges, the Indian HighCommission refused to instruct a lawyer itself, as in their view this wouldamount to a waiver of India’s sovereign immunity.ALSO READ Pakistan citizen portal, a gift for nation from PM Imran Khan:Shiblilink
As a result, the government of Pakistan was constrained to initiateproceedings for appointment of a state counsel for Commander Jadhav, headded.
To show the discrepancy in the Indian position, the Attorney-General forPakistan, during the course of proceedings cited the case of MuhammadIsmail an Indian national currently in custody in Pakistan where the IndianHigh Commission had instructed Noon as its lawyer.
“Contrary to the false statement by the MEA, no attempt was made to linkthe cases of Commander Jadhav with another Indian prisoner Ismail.
The two cases are and remain entirely distinct. Reference to the case ofMr. Ismail was only for purpose of showing the discrepancy andinconsistency in the Indian position,” the spokesperson remarked.ALSO READ 3,119 new coronavirus cases reported; 44 deaths in past 24 hourslink
He reiterated that in line with the ICJ’s judgment, Pakistan had alreadyprovided consular access to the Indian High Commission twice and had takenall necessary steps for effective review and reconsideration in the case.The offer of a third consular access is still there, he added.
He again urged the Indian side to desist from the use of its usualdiversionary and dilatory tactics and instead take practical steps so thatlegal proceedings could be duly concluded and full effect could be given tothe judgment of ICJ.