Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Pakistan presents arguments in ICJ

THE HAGUE: Pakistan today presented its arguments before the International Court of Justice in Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav case.Attorney General Mansoor Ali Khan presented the arguments from the Pakistani side.Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, who was due to sit in the panel as Judge Ad hoc along with ICJ’s regular judges, could not continue with the hearing for being unwell and was immediately shifted to hospital.The UN court allowed Pakistan to continue its arguments without ad hoc judge.The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday initiated its four-day public hearing regarding Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav at the Hague, Netherlands, with India making its legal submissions on the first day.A 15-member panel of the ICJ judges heard the arguments from Joint Secretary of Indian External Affairs Ministry Deepak Mittal at the Peace Palace’s the seat of the Court.India’s Counsel Advocate Harish Salve, who had also earlier represented the country in the same case, presented his statement before the court, that mostly appeared to be based on repetition of points raised in previous proceedings.Salve highlighted the issues including denial of consular access by Pakistan and its breach of Article 36 (1)(b) of the Vienna Convention, the similar arguments that India came up with during maiden statement of objections.He opposed the death penalty announced by Pakistan, citing it contrary to the fundamental rights and also argued against the decision made by Pakistan’s military court for trying a civilian.On Pakistan’s earlier objection on India facilitating Jadhav’s 17 times travel on his passport with cover name Hussein Mubarik Patel, the Indian counsel merely termed it ‘untrue’ without presenting any supporting facts.