Pakistan questions jurisdiction over internal security after Hague verdict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday reacted to the International Court of Justice’s order not to execute Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national convicted of espionage and terrorism, by saying it is determined to pursue the case to its “logical end”.

Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan had already made it clear it doesn’t accept the United Nations’ highest court’s jurisdiction in national security matters. The attorney general contended the ICJ’s order amounted to maintaining the “status quo” in Jadhav’s case.

The two officials reacted after The Hague-based ICJ ordered Pakistan not to execute Jadhav, 46, till it gives a final decision on India’s petition to annul his death sentence. The ICJ also rejected Pakistan’s stance that it does not have the jurisdiction to take up the case.

A statement from the attorney general’s office said the ICJ wanted “the status quo (to) be maintained” in Jadhav’s case and the provisional measures were “without prejudice to the final determination” of the case.

Pakistan attended the hearing at the ICJ “because of its conviction that the only way to resolve all outstanding issues is through peaceful means”, it said.

Pakistan had also assured the ICJ that Jadhav “would be provided every opportunity and remedy available under the law to defend his case” and he “still has ample time to petition for clemency”, the statement said. “We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end,” it added.

Talking to state-run Pakistan Television after the order was issued, Zakaria said India was “trying to hide its real face” by taking Jadhav’s case to the ICJ. “The real face of India will be exposed before the world,” he said, adding Jadhav had “confessed” to his involvement in sabotage, terrorism and subversive activities.

Zakaria also told Dunya TV channel that Pakistan does not accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction in matters related to national security.

Pakistan, he added, “will present solid evidence against the Indian spy in the international court”.

Earlier, he told a weekly news briefing that India was trying to portray Jadhav’s case “as a humanitarian issue to divert the world’s attention from his role in fomenting terrorism”.

PAK FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN NAFEES ZAKARIA SAID INDIA WAS TRYING TO HIDE ITS REAL FACE” BY TAKING THE CASE TO THE ICJ