Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict Updates: Truth and Justice have prevailed, says PM Modi
Hague, July 17: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday ruled in India's favour in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and affirmed that the right to consular access should be granted to the former Indian Navy officer who was arrested by Pakistan in 2019.
On the death sentence awarded to the ex-navy officer in 2017 by a Pakistani military court, the ICJ today said Jadhav's death sentence should remain suspended until Islamabad effectively reviews and reconsiders the decision.
The verdict in the Kulbushan Jadhav case is set to be announced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today, merely five months after India urged the International Court to annul the death sentence handed by a Pakistani military court to former Navy officer.
Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, President of the Court, read out the verdict of the top international court at 6.30 pm IST in a public sitting at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
The verdict in the high-profile case comes nearly five months after a 15-member bench of ICJ led by Judge Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete.
Stay tuned for Live updates on ICJ verdict in the Kulbushan Jadhav case:
Heartened by the #KulbhushanVerdict. At last justice has prevailed. All of India joins his family in their joy!
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 17, 2019
We welcome today’s verdict in the @CIJ_ICJ. Truth and justice have prevailed. Congratulations to the ICJ for a verdict based on extensive study of facts. I am sure Kulbhushan Jadhav will get justice.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 17, 2019
Our Government will always work for the safety and welfare of every Indian.
Big win for Pakistan. India’s demand of release and repatriation of #KulbhushanJadhav rejected by ICJ.#KulbhushanVerdict
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) July 17, 2019
We welcome the ruling by the International Court of Justice in the #KulbhushanJhadhav case. This is a big win for India & we will continue to pray for his early return.
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 17, 2019
A 15:1 verdict is actually a unanimous verdict
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 17, 2019
India had a very strong case before ICJ. @aimim_national welcomes the ICJ judgment recognising Kulbhushan’s right to consular access & a fair trial
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 17, 2019
Would be amiss to not thank all the lawyers including the very able Mr.Salve who worked pro-bono for India pic.twitter.com/QKMIebyyrY
I warmly welcome the ICJ judgment staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav & granting consular access to India. Truth and justice prevails. This son of our soil must be back soon with his family.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 17, 2019
They brought this matter to the International Court and proved that he is innocent. We wish the son of Ma Bharti returns at the earliest.#KulbhushanJadhav
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 17, 2019
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan has fully contested the case before the ICJ.
"Pakistan was hoping for the best and would accept the decision of ICJ," he was quoted as saying by state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.
India moved the ICJ in May 8, 2017 for the "egregious violation" of the provisions of the Vienna Convention by Pakistan by repeatedly denying New Delhi consular access to Jadhav.
A bench of the ICJ, which was set up after World War II to resolve international disputes, on May 18, 2017 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.
A four-day public hearing in the high-profile case took place in February amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group that killed 40 CRPF soldiers on February 14.
During the hearing in ICJ, both India and Pakistan submitted their detailed pleas and responses.
India based its case on two broad issues breach of Vienna Convention on consular access and the process of resolution.
Harish Salve, who was representing India in the case, questioned the functioning of Pakistan's notorious military courts and urged the top UN court to annul Jadhav's death sentence, which is based on an "extracted confession".
In his submission in the ICJ on the last day of the hearing, Pakistan's counsel Khawar Qureshi said, "India's claim for relief must be dismissed or declared inadmissible."
Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.
However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.
Pakistan had rejected India's plea for consular access to Jadhav at the ICJ, claiming that New Delhi wants the access to get the information gathered by its "spy".
However, Pakistan facilitated a meeting of Jadhav with his mother and wife in Islamabad on December 25, 2017.
OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)