Delhi: A day after summoning the Pakistan deputy high commissioner in connection with Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence by a military court there, MEA said on Thursday that India had requested consular access to Pakistan 14 times earlier.
“India has now asked for consular access to Jadhav for the 15th time. India awaits formal response from Pakistan to its two demands – consular access and details of the trial proceedings against Jadhav,” MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.
“We don’t know anything about Jadhav’s location or condition in Pakistan, it is a matter of concern for India. We are concerned about his health and whereabouts,” he maintained.
“Pakistan claims there have been legal proceedings against Jadhav, if there have been, we would like to see them,” Baglay added.
Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haidar Shah was called by the External Affairs Ministry yesterday which reiterated that Jadhav was innocent and false charges were framed against him, according to sources, PTI reported.
The Pakistan diplomat was also told that not giving consular access to Jadhav amounted to violation of human rights as well international norms as the two countries have a bilateral agreement on consular access.
Upping the ante, Pakistan Army had on Monday ruled out consular access to 46-year-old Jadhav, days after India had made a strong case for access to the Indian prisoner on death row.
Indian envoy Gautam Bambawale had met the Pakistan foreign secretary last week and demanded a certified copy of the chargesheet and the Army court order in the case, besides consular access to the retired Indian Navy officer.
“We definitely want to appeal against the judgement but we cannot do it unless we have the details of charges and a copy of verdict. So, my demand was that the details of the charge sheet and a copy of the verdict be provided to us,” Bambawale had said after the meeting.
(With PTI inputs)
Source: Zee News