Jadhav mom petitions Pak, seeks son’s release, visas

Pakistan on Wednesday formally rejected India’s 16th request for consular access to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, even as Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad and handed over a petition from Mr Jadhav’s mother to the Pakistan government and the Court of Appeal, requesting Mr Jadhav’s release. Mr Jadhav’s mother has also requested that visas be granted to her and her husband so that they can meet their son.

The Court of Appeal will hear Mr Jadhav’s case against the death sentence awarded to him by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and sabotage.

Mr Bambawale also handed India’s 16th request for consular access to Mr Jadhav which was dismissed by Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, saying that Mr Jadhav was caught red-handed while carrying out espionage for RAW and that he had confessed.

Pakistan on Wednesday formally rejected India’s request for consular access to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, even as Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale met Pakistan foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad and handed over a petition by the mother of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to the Pakistan government and an appeal for the “Court of Appeal”.

The Court of Appeal will hear the case of Jadhav who was recently sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and sabotage. India also requested Pakistan to facilitate visas for Jadhav’s parents, who have filed their visa application with the Pakistan high commission and want to visit Pakistan to meet their son and file the petition and appeal in person.

New Delhi also placed the 16th request for consular access to Jadhav with Islamabad.

Ms Janjua, however, conveyed to the Indian high commissioner that the demand for consular access had been rejected. Ms Janjua dismissed the plea filed by the Indian envoy, while claiming that Jadhav was caught redhanded while carrying out espionage for India’s external intelligence organisation, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and that he also confessed to the charges. But New Delhi has termed the charges “concocted”. Pak media reports say Ms Janjua turned down Mr Bambawale’s demand, saying “access under (bilateral) agreement is meant for prisoners and not for spies”. In New Delhi, the Indian government said Mr Jaishankar met Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit (in New Delhi) on Tuesday “and made similar points” to what the Indian envoy raised in Islamabad.