India set to defend Jadhav in Pak court
New Delhi seeks chargesheet and military court judgment as envoy meets Pak foreign secy
ISLAMABAD: India on Friday sought copies of the charge-sheet and the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav even as it reiterated its demand for consular access to the former Indian Navy officer arrested in Balochistan more than a year ago.
Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale demanded the charge-sheet and the judgement of the Pakistani military court that sentenced Jadhav to death when he met foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua.
Bambawale “also sought consular access for the 14th time”, said a brief statement from the Indian mission.
The envoy informed Pakistan that India would appeal against the death sentence given to Jadhav, who was hurriedly tried and sentenced by a military court in murky circumstances.
Bambawale told the media after the meeting that Pakistan had not responded to India’s earlier requests for consular access to Jadhav. “We said he’s an Indian national and under international law, we should get consular access,” he said. “We will appeal against the judgement. Till we know what is in the chargesheet and the verdict, how can we appeal?” Bambawale added.
Pakistan has turned down India’s repeated demands for consular access on the ground that Jadhav’s was a case of espionage.
The former navy official was reportedly arrested in Balochistan in March last year “for involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan”, according to a Pakistani military statement.
Addressing a news briefing on Friday, Pakistan’s foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz alleged Jadhav was “responsible for espionage, sabotage and terrorism” and had been tried “according to the law in a transparent manner”.
“Due process has been followed while proceeding against Mr Jadhav. All further action in this regard shall also be taken in accordance with our laws,” said Aziz, who read from a statement and didn’t take questions.
We will definitely appeal against the judgment. Till we know what is in the chargesheet and the verdict, how can we appeal?
GAUTAM BAMBAWALE, Indian high commissioner to Pakistan
MUMBAI: Friends of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the retired Indian navy officer sentenced to death in Pakistan on spying charges, have started a campaign in a bid to put pressure on Pakistan and secure their friend’s release.
Recounting his childhood days, Jadhav’s friend Tulsiram Pawar said the former navy officer was good at both sports and studies. “He was very studious and used to teach us English,” Pawar said.
Jadhav, who was held guilty of espionage in Balochistan by a Pakistan military court, spent his early days in Parel and used to stay in the police quarters with his family. Pawar was his neighbour and the two spent a lot of time together as kids.
Pawar, along with other friends of Jadhav, have decided to do their bid in helping the 46-year-old get justice. They have started a signature campaign through which they intend to put pressure on Pakistan.
“We are meeting various political parties to seek their help apart from trying to meet the foreign minister and Prime minister,” he said.
Pawar said they were even willing to meet the Pakistan high commissioner. “All we want is for Kulbhushan to come back safely from Pakistan,” he added.
FAMILY AWAY FROM PUBLIC EYE
While Jadhav’s friends are reaching out to others in an attempt to bring him back, the former naval officer’s family members have chosen to stay away from public eye.
“Please understand, it’s testing times for us and I cannot make any comment,” Jadhav’s uncle and Maharashtra’s former assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Subhash Jadhav told HT.
The family remained huddled at their Powai residence, with police deploying its personnel outside the building premises as a precautionary measure.
The residents of the building have also chosen to remain tight-
lipped and are not speaking to the media. The locality had witnessed similar media frenzy when Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2016.
According to Pakistan’s InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his “involvement in espionage and sabotage actives” in Pakistan’s Balochistan province and Karachi city.