Kulbhushan Jadhav case: ICJ order binding on Pakistan, says India
Pakistan's foreign office says world court has no jurisdiction, its Punjab province minister says will accept verdict.
New Delhi / Islamabad: India on Thursday asserted that the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), staying the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, is binding on Pakistan and termed the verdict as “unanimous” and “unambiguous”.
Hours after the ICJ in The Hague pronounced its provisional order in the case, the external affairs ministry said the government will do everything possible to save the life of Jadhav.
Addressing a crowed press conference here, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the provisional relief provided by the ICJ is the first step in ensuring justice to Jadhav.
The order by the ICJ is unanimous, favourable, clear and unambiguous. The verdict a matter of great relief for people of the country, he said. Replying to a volley of questions on India’s possible response if Pakistan does not implement the ICJ order, Mr Baglay said the order is binding on Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan said that International Court of Justice had no jurisdiction to hear case of Kulbushan Jadhav as it pertained to the security of Pakistan.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria in Islamabad said that Pakistan’s reply to the ICJ was submitted in line with Article 36 of the United Nations Charter, explaining that Pakistan, in some issues, does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ.
Zakaria said Pakistan has already informed the ICJ that it does not accept its jurisdiction in matters related to the national security. However, Pakistan’s Punjab province law minister Rana Sanaullah said Islamabad would accept the decision of the International Court of Justice.
His statement was in conflict with that of the foreign office which said Pakistan does not accept ICJ’s jurisdiction in matters related to the national security. “We will accept the decision of International Court of Justice on Kulbhushan,” Sanaullah told reporters at the Punjab Assembly.
“Although Kulbhushan’s case does not fall in the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice but Pakistan accepts its decision,” he said. The minister further said Pakistan has strong evidence of Kulbhushan’s involvement in espionage.