ICJ turns down India's request for time to file pleadings in Jadhav case

THE HAGUE: The International Court of Justice has turned down India's request to give it six months to file pleadings before the court in Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

Speaking to Geo News, Pakistan's Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf said India had sought time till December to file its pleadings in the case. But the court allowed it time until September 13.

The ICJ also set December 13 deadline for Pakistan to submit its counter-pleadings in the case.

Had the Indian request been approved, the case would have been delayed by more than eighteen months. Pakistan had requested that the matter of filing of pleadings ought to be completed before the end of the year.

The court heard the matter in chambers on June 8, wherein the attorney general opposed the Indian request on grounds that New Delhi had one full year to prepare its case and had hurriedly requested for expedited hearing on provisional measures.

They should not be allowed to drag their feet, he said.

ICJ stays execution of Indian spy Jadhav pending final decision

Pakistan shall take all measures to ensure Jadhav isn't executed till court's final decision: ICJ

On May 18, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an on-duty Indian navy officer working for RAW who was arrested from Balochistan in March 2016, until a final decision in the proceedings.

"Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings," ordered Judge Ronny Abraham, president of the court, as he announced the decision.

Arrest, confession, sentencing

Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 in a ‘counter-intelligence operation’ from Mashkel area of Balochistan over his involvement in espionage and sabotage actives in Pakistan.

Full text of Kulbhushan Jadhav confessional statement

Following is the full text of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav confessional statement which recorded voluntarily “My name is Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav and I am the serving officer of Indian...

The incarcerated RAW agent, in his video statement, confessed to involvement in sabotage and espionage activities inside Pakistan, which has also been the crux of Islamabad’s case in the ICJ.

On April 10, a Field General Court Martial, under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act, awarded death sentence to Jadhav for espionage and sabotage.

Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also ratified the sentencing by the army tribunal.

Jadhav has since been on death row awaiting appeals.