Kulbhushan Jadhav case: ICJ hearing today amid hopes for justice
- BJP leaders hope that justice will prevail in this round of hearing and Jadhav will be released.
- India challenged the verdict in the UN top court, which on May 18 asked Pakistan not to execute Jadhav before they decide the case.
- Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death in a Field Court Martial on April 10, 2017 after three and a half months of trial. He was accused of espionage and working for India's external intelligence agency, RAW.
FollowThe International Court of Justice will resume its hearing today on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case amid speculations from the BJP that justice will prevail and the former Naval officer will be released early. Speaking to the ANI, BJP leader S Prakash said that he hoped that the Indian Government will succeed in bringing back Jadhav to India.
Prakash said, "India will make every effort to see that Jadhav is released from Pakistan's illegal detention. He has been sentenced to death by the court of Pakistan without even a hearing and without providing an opportunity to him to put forth his point of view. However, the Indian effort to secure his freedom has delayed the judicial process in Pakistan, and I am sure in the coming hearing the Indian government will succeed in bringing back Jadhav to India."
Meanwhile, BJP leader Rahul Sinha also expressed hope for justice in the matter. He, however, said, "The court will take its decision. We should not comment on it. The matter is in the court and we hope that we will get justice."
[Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav? The ex-Indian Navy officer sentenced to death by Pakistan]
Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death by a court in Pakistan earlier this year on charges of spying. Following this, India challenged the verdict in the UN top court, which on May 18 asked Pakistan not to execute Jadhav before they decide the case. In its argument presented before the court on May 15, India had expressed fear that Pakistan would execute Jadhav even before the court gave its verdict. Both India and Pakistan will make their submissions before the ICJ.Â
The story so far
Former India Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death in a Field Court Martial on April 10, 2017 after three and a half months of trial. He was accused of espionage and working for India's external intelligence agency, RAW. He was arrested from Balochistan on March 3 last year.Â
The matter has further widened the differences between the two countries as India has been seeking consular access to Jadhav, but Pakistan has been denying the same 13 times in the past. In light of this, India has cancelled maritime talks with Pakistan that was scheduled for April 17 this year.Â
[International Court of Justice stays Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution]
In the month of June, Pakistan military announced that the former Navy official had filed a mercy petition with Army chief  General Qamar Javed Bajwa. In a statement by the Inter Services Public Relations, military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said Mr. Jadhav had filed the mercy plea with a confessional statement that he was involved in subversive activities in Balochistan.
Ten days after the ICJ stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan claimed that it had fresh evidence against him. In a later statement, Pakistan said that the ICJ's verdict on Kulbhushan Jadhav does not change Pakistan's ruling on him.Â
[India should be wary, Pakistan may still excecute Jadhav]
