Pakistan on Friday, rebuked ‘misleading’ assertions made by Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding Kulbhushan Jadhav case.
According to the press-release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Pakistan has categorically incorrect and misleading assertions made by Indian side legal proceedings pertaining to Kulbhushan Jadhav case in Pakistan.
It is evident that by casting aspersions on the Indian High Commission’s own legal Counsel, the Indian government is looking for an escape from the legal proceedings in Commander Jadhav case, said the Foreign Office (FO).
MoFA highlighted that in pursuance of the judgment of International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistan has already invited the Indian High Commission to meet with Commander Jadhav and appoint a lawyer on his behalf so that proceedings to review and reconsider Commander Jadhav’s conviction could commence.
However, during the course of diplomatic exchanges, the Indian High Commission refused to instruct a lawyer itself, as in their view this would amount to a waiver of India’s sovereign immunity. Resultantly, the government of Pakistan was constrained to initiate proceedings for appointment of a state counsel for Commander Jadhav, it said.
It is to be noted that India is intentionally dragging the issue of legal representation of Kulbhushan Jadhav as shown by its decision to duly appoint Mr Noon to represent Mr Muhammad Ismail, an Indian national currently in custody in Pakistan.
Meanwhile Pakistan has already provided consular access to the Indian High Commission twice and has taken all necessary steps for effective review and reconsideration in the case.The offer of a third consular access is still there.
Pakistan has urged the Indian side to desist from the use of its usual diversionary and dilatory tactics and instead take practical steps so that legal proceedings could be duly concluded and full effect could be given to the judgment of ICJ.
