The International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided in favour of Pakistan as it announced its verdict on India’s petition challenging the death sentence given to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Jadhav, a serving commander in the Indian Navy working for India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Balochistan on charges of espionage, and condemned to death by a military court the following year.
In June 2017, the Indian spy had filed a mercy petition against his death penalty while India approached the ICJ against the conviction. The ICJ stayed his execution.
India argued that commander Jadhav was an innocent businessman who was kidnapped from Iran, brought to Pakistan and tortured to confess that he was a commander in the Indian Navy and working for RAW, India’s primary intelligence agency.
Pakistan had rejected all Indian allegations. It said the evidence obtained from Jadhav after his arrest and during the criminal process leading to his conviction was amply demonstrating his activities in fomenting terrorism and engaging in espionage within Pakistan.
Today the judgement was read out by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of International Court of Justice (ICJ) during a public sitting which took place at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
– ICJ rejects New Delhi’s plea to acquit and release self-confessed Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
– Kulbhushan to remain in the custody of Pakistan and would not be extradited to India.
– Jadhav’s death sentence remains suspended until Pakistan gives consular access to Jadhav.
– The court ruled that even a spy would be given consular access under the Vienna Convention.
– Pakistan’s objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court was rejected.
– ICJ ruled that the passport of Indian spy under the name of Hussain Mubarik Patel was real.
– ICJ confirms that Kulbhushan Jadhav is an Indian national.
– The international court also dismissed the Indian plea challenging the conviction by Pakistani military court.
– ICJ ruled that Kulbhushan’s conviction by Pakistan was not in contradiction to the Vienna Convention.
– The international court announced that Pakistan had informed the Indian authorities about arrest of Kulbhushan on time.