India hopeful as Justice prevails in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case
- In Current Affairs
- 08:22 AM, Jul 19, 2019
- Ranabir Bhattacharyya
The Narendra Modi government has ample reasons to cheer about today in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has directed Pakistan to suspend and review the death sentence. In addition to that, ICJ has directed Imran Khan's Pakistan to provide consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Let's not forget that India has been calling for consular access for the last two years by the international diplomatic norms. This is no doubt that this is a significant step towards providing justice to the innocent Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been framed by the neighbouring country as 'an Indian spy'.
On 3rd March 2016, Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested by Pakistan and within a year and a month, a Pakistan Army Court, no less than a kangaroo court, awarded death sentence to Jadhav. Without any further delay and understanding the gravity of the situation, the Indian government approached the ICJ. Pakistan went on with false claims saying Jadhav confessed to involvement in a terrorist act and filed mercy petition. Although Pakistan allowed Jadhav's wife and mother to meet him, it was more of a farce as international decorum wasn't maintained. As the ICJ stayed Jadhav's execution, Pakistan came up with a fake story of terrorist swap to malign India. As the ICJ now orders Pakistan to review conviction and sentencing of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Imran Khan's government has been shamed in international media and it has once again been proved=n that Kangaroo courts in Pakistan have no respect for justice.
There is no denying the fact that the orders of ICJ have given much joy to Indians living in the country and abroad and certainly, it also gives a ray of hope to Jadhav's family members. From the government's perspective, credit goes to the Modi Government for proactive involvement in safeguarding Jadhav's interests. Harish Salve, an eminent lawyer who is representing India in Kulbhushan Jadhav's case, seems confident. He has categorically remarked, "It protected Kulbhushan Jadhav from being executed, in a hearing which was put together in a matter of days. Pakistan repeatedly played slides of what it claimed was the passport it had recovered from Jadhav. Not only did the Court get drawn into it, thus displaying the passport led to the court rejecting Pakistan's argument that Jadhav's nationality was uncertain."
It remains to be seen whether Pakistan adheres to the ICJ orders or not. But make no mistake, the Imran Khan government has faced criticism from the International court and chances of any drastic step on part of the Pakistan government don’t look imminent. On the other hand, today’s order is another step closer towards freeing Kulbhushan Jadhav from the clutches of inhuman cells of Pakistan. The consular access to Jadhav will pave the path for it.
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