New Pak Law Gives Kulbhushan Jadhav Right To Appeal; Still Unfair, Says India

The retired Indian Navy officer was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April 2017.

Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. Image used for representation.

(Photo: IANS)

The parliament of Pakistan on Wednesday, 17 November, passed a bill to grant Kulbhushan Jadhav the right to appeal as per the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Reacting to the development, India has condemned Pakistan's denial of a 'fair trial' for the officer accused of terrorism.

The 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.

The bill had been adopted by the Pakistan national assembly on 10 June to give the right of appeal to Indian prisoner Jadhav in regard to the ICJ’s ruling.

The ICJ ruling had directed the assembly to give it an “effective review and reconsideration,” India Today reported.

"Pakistan continues to deny unimpeded and unhindered consular access to Mr Jadhav and has failed to create an atmosphere in which a fair trial can be conducted," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, NDTV reported, adding that the new law has the same shortcomings as the previous ordinance.

India had earlier approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence. After hearing both sides, the ICJ had issued a verdict in July 2019, asking Pakistan to give India consular access to Jadhav and also ensure review of his conviction.

In 2020, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government presented an ordinance in the national assembly in view of the ICJ's ruling in the case.

The International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance 2020 was enacted on 20 May last year.

(With inputs from NDTV and India Today.)