India submits reply to ICJ in Kulbhushan Jadhav case
India was given until September 13 to file its initial pleadings in the case
September 13, 2017
THE HAGUE: India on Wednesday submitted its reply in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) pertaining to the case of convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Earlier the Indian media reported that Ministry of External Affairs joint secretary V D Sharma had left New Delhi for the Netherlands on Tuesday night in order to hand over a hard copy of India’s memorial to the ICJ.
On June 16 this year, the ICJ turned down India's request to give it six months to file pleadings before the court in the case.
Speaking to Geo News, Pakistan's Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf had said India had sought until December to file its pleadings but the court allowed it until September 13 to do so.
The ICJ also set December 13 as the deadline for Pakistan to submit its counter-pleadings in the case.
On May 18, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of Jadhav, an on-duty Indian navy officer working for Indian spy agency 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.
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.
