Amlendu Bhushan Khan / New Delhi: Leaders cutting across the party today welcomed the order of International Court of Justice staying the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan and asked it to respect the same.
The Congress today welcomed the verdict of the International Court of Justice on Kulbhushan Jadhav and hoped the government will continue to mount pressure on Pakistan to implement the decision in order to save the former Navy officer’s life and bring him back.
Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the people of the country are relieved after the ICJ order as India was left with no other option since Pakistan had disrespected and violated the Vienna Convention.
“It is a matter of great relief for all the people of India. We were worried. The order of the International Court of Justice must be respected by the State of Pakistan…
“We hope that the Government of India will continue to mount that pressure because it is the first stage. We have to ensure that Jadhav’s life is saved and then only when he returns home, we will celebrate. Right now, it is a big relief, and we hope that Pakistan respects that order.
He said Pakistan’s argument before the ICJ and its refusal to accept its jurisdiction betrays a mindset of disrespect to the Vienna Convention which Pakistan has brazenly violated.
Asked if India moving the ICJ opens a door for Pakistan to raise bilateral issues internationally, the former external affairs minister said he is sure the government would have weighed all options and their pros and cons.
“India was left with no option after Pakistan’s disrespect and violation of the Vienna Convention,” he said.
Sharma also complimented the Indian legal team led by senior lawyer Harish Salve, saying they argued the case well as India has been able to very clearly convey that this was a case of violation and there was a need for the ICJ to intervene.
“But this is a battle that shall continue,” he said, hoping that the international community and the UN puts pressures Pakistan to respect and implement the ICJ’s verdict.
The Congress leader said Jadhav was “unfairly” denied consular access or legal assistance and the international community must bring pressure on Pakistan’s government and its army.
“The United Nations has to take serious note,” he said.
Sharma also said Pakistan’s contention before the ICJ that this case was taken to the military tribunal because there was an issue of terrorism, is flawed and is a lie.
He said Jadhav was a civilian who was abducted from Iran, even though he may have served in the defence services prior to his retirement.
“For Pakistan to wipe its face of so many pockmarks of many cases of terrorism, it tried to present it as a justified case of action,” he said.
Referring to 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, Sharma said even in the case of the LeT militants who had come fully armed, attacked the citizens of this country, and killed hundreds including foreigners (in Mumbai), Kasab was not only given a fair trial but in a civilian court of law, and was not denied legal assistance but given all access.
“So Pakistan has no legs to stand upon,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also welcomed the ICJ verdict and asked the government to ensure justice is done to Jadhav and he is brought back to India.
“The case against Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan was a sham and was in gross violation of international law as his execution was ordered by a kangaroo court without consular access. It is appreciated that the world court saw reason in the Indian appeal,” he said in a statement.
In a major boost to India, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today stayed the execution of former naval officer Jadhav who had been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities.
“Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings,” ICJ President Ronny Abraham said while reading out the verdict.
The UN’s highest judicial body, which had earlier provisionally stayed Jadhav’s sentence on May 9, also instructed Pakistan to inform it “of all the measures taken in implementation of the present order”.
Hailing the order as “major victory” for India, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said it has “exposed” Pakistan and exuded confidence that the final order too will be go in India’s favour.
“Major victory for India #KulbhushanJadhav case. ICJ upholds India’s right to consular access, put a stay on death execution. Justice prevails (sic).
“International Court of Justice staying execution of #KulbhushanJadhav has exposed Pakistan. I’m sure final order too will go in our favour (sic),” Naidu tweeted.
Describing the order as “positive”, CPI’s national secretary D Raja hailed the ICJ for making it clear that India has every right to provide consular access to Jadhav.
“Now, Pakistan will have to respect the order and abide by it,” the Left leader said.
Joining the leaders in welcoming the order, Delhi Chief Minster and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal tweeted the entire country is united in ensuing Jadhav’s safe release.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, currently in Hyderabad, though noted the ICJ has reiterated its earlier position that Pakistan should wait till the time the international court disposes of the case.
“It is just a continuation of its earlier understanding,” Yechury observed.
An 11-judge bench of the ICJ unanimously stayed execution of Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities.
The ICJ also instructed Pakistan to take all “necessary measures at its disposal” to ensure that Jadhav was not executed pending a final decision by it.
The court said that India should have been granted consular access to its national as per the Vienna Convention to which both countries have been signatories since 1977.
