Mishandling of Jadhav case draws criticism
Islamabad to form new team of lawyers to pursue its case
Opposition parties yesterday lambasted the government over the interim order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) restraining Pakistan from executing Indian national Kulbhusan Jadhav, who is sentenced to death on charges of spying and involvement in subversive activities.
Terming the verdict a setback for Pakistan, the opposition blamed the government for mishandling the case at the ICJ, while the latter rejected the claim and asked political rivals not to play politics on the issue of national security.
In Thursday’s interim order the ICJ stated that by way of provisional measures, the status quo must be maintained in the case of Jadhav.
In a statement, the attorney-general of Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, said the ICJ “has clearly underscored that the provisional measures are without prejudice to the final determination of the merits and jurisdiction of the case.”
He said the provisional measures are a procedural process only to enable the court to have full consideration at a later hearing and these measures have no bearing whatsoever on the final decision of the court.
The attorney-general said Pakistan attended the hearing out of its utmost respect for the court.
In addition, Pakistan attended because of its conviction that the only way to resolve all outstanding issues is through peaceful means, he said. “We are confident that India would not be able to hide the subversive activities it is trying to carry out through its agents like Commander Jadhav. India has no substance in the case,” the attorney-general said.
Pakistan will get a new team of lawyers to put forward its case vigorously, media reports quoted a top official as saying.