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India Says Kulbhushan Jadhav Coerced by Pakistan to Refuse to File Review Petition

File photo of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Pakistan earlier said Jadhav has refused to file a review petition and wants to proceed with his pending mercy petition, adding that Islamabad has offered a second round of consular access to him.

  • News18.com New Delhi
  • Last Updated: July 8, 2020, 8:56 PM IST

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India on Wednesday said its national, Kulbhushan Jadhav, has been coerced to refuse to file a review petition in his case in Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan said Jadhav has refused to file a review petition and wants to proceed with his pending mercy petition, adding that Islamabad has offered a second round of consular access to him.

Jadhav, the 49-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017. Weeks later, India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

“We have been pursuing through diplomatic channels full and effective implementation of the ICJ judgment in the case of Kulbushan Jadhav. The media statement made by Pakistan today in the case seeks to mask its continuing reticence to implement ICJ judgment in letter and spirit,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava.

“Pakistan’s claim that Jadhav, who is incarcerated in Pakistan’s custody, has refused to initiate review petition is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years. Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistan’s military,” said Shrivastava. “He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case.”

The spokesperson said India has sought unimpeded access to Jadhav to discuss his remedies under the Ordinance. “In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the Ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the ICJ,” he said.

Source: News18