The Islamabad High Court has allowed India to appoint a legal representative for Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Kulbhushan Jadhav, 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 Islamabad High Court on Monday directed Pakistan government to allow Indian authorities to appoint a legal representative for Kulbhushan Jadav. Pakistan government had earlier appointed a legal counsel for Jadhav without his or the Indian government’s consent.
The hearing in relation to the case has been adjourned till September. Today’s hearing came a few days after the Pakistan government enacted an ordinance called the ‘International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance 2020’ on May 20.
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Under the ordinance, a petition for the review of Pakistan military court’s decision can be made to Islamabad High Court through an application within 60 days of its promulgation.
The ordinance was passed by the Lower House of the National earlier this week amid uproar and protest by opposition benches. It also allows Jadhav to file a review plea against his death sentence by Pakistan military court in 2017.
Retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav, 50, was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in 2017.
India’s efforts to gain unhindered and unimpeded consular access to Jadhav has been obstructed by Pakistan several times despite the judgement by the Intentional Court of Justice (ICJ).
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