India summons Pak diplomat over Jadhav

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Wednesday summoned Syed Haider Shah, Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner to India, and reiterated its position that former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav was an innocent Indian national framed by the neighbouring country.

The ministry also raised its demand for consular access to Jadhav during the meeting. India has so far made 14 requests for gaining consular access to Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for espionage and sabotage.

According to sources, Shah was told that not according consular access amounted to a violation of the principles of international law.

Ministry officials also pointed at the fact that the two countries had signed a bilateral pact that provided for such a facility.

On Tuesday, Pakistan officials said a retired army officer from the country was lured to Nepal with promises of employment before being captured by Indian intelligence agents.

New Delhi hopes to use him to secure Jadhav’s release, they alleged. Meanwhile The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the steps being taken by the Centre to secure Jadhav’s release.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra remarked that the Indian Government was making “every possible endeavour” to safeguard life and liberty of Jhadav.

“We have no doubt at all that the respondents (Centre) are best placed to take the decisions as also all appropriate steps to safeguard the life and liberty of the citizens of this country,” the bench said as it dismissed the petition .