ICJ orders Pakistan to review Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence; PM hails verdict

The International Court of Justice(ICJ) Wednesday ordered Pakistan to make an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and death sentence of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav and also grant consular access, in a verdict that was hailed in India as a "big victory" for the country.

In a reprieve for Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" after a closed trial in April 2017, a 16-member bench by a 15-1 vote continued the stay on the execution and held that Islamabad violated New Delhi's rights to consular visits after his arrest.

A Chinese judge was part of the majority verdict while the ad hoc judge from Pakistan on the bench headed by President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia gave a dissenting opinion.

Rejecting Pakistan's objection to admissibility of the Indian application in the case, the court in its 42-page order held that "a continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review" of the sentence of Jadhav that had strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The bench, however, rejected some remedies sought by India, including annulment of the military court's decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the verdict, saying "truth and justice" have prevailed while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj described it as a "big victory" for India.

Modi said he is sure that Jadhav "will get justice".

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he spoke to Jadhav's family and applauds their courage. "Satyameva Jayate," he tweeted.

The External Affairs Ministry said the "landmark judgement" validated India's position on the matter "fully" and asked Pakistan to implement the directive of the ICJ immediately.

"We will continue to work vigorously for Kulbhushan Jadhav's early release and return to India," said the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar.

Opposition parties including the Congress also hailed the ICJ decision.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was "heartened" by the verdict.

"At last justice has prevailed. All of India joins his family in their joy!"