All options being explored for release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, states Foreign Ministry

New Delhi: – Pakistan has announced that Kulbhushan Jadhav has refused to file a review petition against the verdict awarding him death punishment. But India has said that this claim is nothing but a Pakistani theatrical to avoid implementation of the judgement passed by the International Court of Justice. The Indian government is exploring all the possible legal recourses in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. The foreign ministry clarified that the Indian government would leave no stone unturned for his safety and return to India.

Pakistan accused Kulbhushan Jadhav of espionage and terrorist attacks. Kulbhushan Jadhav is languishing in Pakistan military prison for the last four years, and three years ago, the military court in Pakistan handed out a death sentence to him. But India has claimed that Jadhav was abducted from the Balochistan province in Iran and was booked under false charges.

Pakistan violated the Vienna convention and did not allow Jadhav legal aid. Taking cognisance of the fact, India approached the International Court of Justice. The International Court of Justice upheld the Indian plea. Last year, the International Court of Justice passed a verdict that the death punishment should be suspended until the decision of the review petition is not received and to provide legal assistance to Jadhav.

Pakistan has still not implemented the court verdict and suddenly on Wednesday, Ahmed Irfan, the Attorney General of Pakistan, announced that Jadhav has refused to file a review petition against the judgement of the military court. Ahmed said that Jadhav was desirous of filing a mercy petition instead of a review petition. But Jadhav is forced to make these statements under pressure. The Indian foreign ministry has reacted that this is one more Pakistani ploy, to avoid implementation of the verdict passed by the International Court of Justice.

India has repeatedly requested that Jadhav should be allowed to meet lawyers from outside Pakistan. But Pakistan has never acceded to this demand. The foreign ministry drew attention to the fact that Pakistan has still not parted with the documents of the case. Therefore, the foreign ministry clarified that every possible option is being evaluated to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Following the intense Indian reaction, Pakistan has said that an opportunity to reconsider will be given to Jadhav. Ahmed Irfan, the Attorney General of Pakistan, said that a special ordinance would have to be passed for this purpose. Pakistan said that Jadhav’s father would be allowed to meet him. Analysts are claiming that this is nothing but a façade and have reminded of the degrading treatment meted out by Pakistan to Jadhav’s mother and sister, three years ago.