Islamabad: Pakistan categorically rejected on Friday incorrect andmisleading assertions made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)regarding the legal proceedings currently taking place in the case ofIndian Naval Commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.

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, said Foreign Office in astatement.

India is reminded that in pursuance of the judgment of International Courtof Justice (ICJ), Pakistan had invited the Indian High Commission to meetwith Commander Jadhav and appoint a lawyer on his behalf so thatproceedings to review and reconsider conviction of the spy could commence.However, 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. Resultantly, thegovernment of Pakistan was constrained to initiate proceedings forappointment of a state counsel for Commander Jadhav.

During the course of the proceedings, to show the discrepancy in the Indianposition, the Attorney-General for Pakistan cited the case of MuhammadIsmail, an Indian national currently in custody in Pakistan, where theIndian High Commission had instructed Mr. Noon as its lawyer.

Contrary to the false statement by the MEA, no attempt was made to link thecases of Commander Jadhav with another Indian prisoner Ismail. The twocases are and remain entirely distinct. Reference to the case of Mr. Ismailwas only for purpose of showing the discrepancy and inconsistency in theIndian position.

It is reiterated that in line with the judgment of ICJ, Pakistan hasalready provided consular access to the Indian High Commission twice andhas taken all necessary steps for effective review and reconsideration inthe case. The offer of a third consular access is still there.