PAK ASKS ICJ FOR EARLY HEARING OF JADHAV CASE

Pakistan has asked the International Court of Justice to hold an early hearing in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, according to a report in the Pakistani media on Tuesday. The move is in line with a statement made earlier by PM Nawaz Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, who told media persons that Pakistan was keen that the hearing of the case starts at its earliest.

Islamabad Pakistan has asked the International Court of Justice to hold an early hearing in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, according to a report in the Pakistani media on Tuesday.

The move is in line with a statement made earlier by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, who told media persons that Pakistan was keen that the hearing of the case starts at its earliest.

The Express Tribune reported that the foreign office had sent a letter to the Hague-based ICJ’s registrar, expressing Pakistan’s desire for a quick hearing, preferably over the next few weeks.

The request was made in view of the elections for ICJ judges in November, it quoted the sources as saying. A senior official, however, was quoted as saying that the ICJ might resume the hearing in the case in October.

“The government (however) wants the hearing (to be held in the) next six weeks,” he said.

Pakistan’s attorney general Ashtar Ausaf Ali is expected to attend the ICJ proceedings. The federal government, however, has not taken any decision about replacing Pakistan’s attorney Khawar Quraishi.

“His performance is satisfactory...He raised all (relevant) legal points during the hearing,” a senior official of the law ministry was quoted as saying.

Sartaj Aziz had also expressed satisfaction with Qureshi.

However, new reports have surfaced suggesting that Qureshi represented India in a case some years ago and these have not been well-received in Pakistan.

The newspaper report, citing sources, also said the government was considering a few names for nominating them for the post of ad hoc ICJ judge. The name of a senior lawyer was also under consideration, it said.

Legal experts have questioned why Pakistan wants to appoint a foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers, the report said.