Pak submits reply to ICJ in Jadhav case

Pakistan submitted its reply to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Kulbhushan Jadhav case on Wednesday.

Pakistan's reply comes after India had submitted its written response to registrar Philippe Couvreur of the ICJ in the same case in September this year.

According to Geo News, dismissing India's stance on former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan in its reply has alleged that Jadhav is not an ordinary person and had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.

The reply, which was submitted by the Foreign Office's Director (India), Fariha Bugti, also claimed that Jadhav case does not fall under the purview of the Vienna Convention.

Citing sources, Geo News reported that that the reply also encompasses the charge-sheet against Jadhav and narrates Pakistan's stance in a comprehensive manner.

Earlier this month, Pakistan agreed to facilitate the visit Jadhav's mother and his wife and also assured their safety, security and freedom of movement in the nation, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said.

Jadhav was arrested in Pakistan's Balochistan Province over charges of alleged involvement in espionage and subversive activities for India's intelligence agency - the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan this year in April.

However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 18, 2017, stayed the hanging after India approached it against the death sentence.

India has appealed to the court to impose emergency measures for Jadhav's execution to be suspended until the legal battle in Hague concludes, while also accusing Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by failing to provide him with consular access and for being in breach of international human rights law.