Govt made commitment in 2017 to protect Kulbhushan Jadhav, I call upon Pak to release him: Jaishankar after ICJ verdict

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar while speaking on the Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict in Rajya Sabha on Thursday said that the ICJ has upheld India's claim that Pakistan is in violation of Vienna Convention on several accounts.

"In 2017, the government made a commitment on the floor of the House to undertake all steps necessary to protect the interest and welfare of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Government has made untiring efforts in seeking his release including through legal means in ICJ," the External Affairs Minister said. 

Further speaking on the ICJ verdict in Jadhav case, Jaishankar said, "The International Court of Justice (ICJ) by a vote of 15-1 upheld India's claim that Pakistan is in violation of Vienna Convention on several counts. ICJ has directed that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with Vienna Convention." 

"We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate Kulbhushan Jadhav," the External Affairs Minister added. 

EAM S Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha on #KulbhushanJadhav verdict: In 2017, govt made commitment on floor of the House to undertake all steps necessary to protect interest&welfare of Shri Jadhav.Govt has made untiring efforts in seeking his release including through legal means in ICJ pic.twitter.com/aAKeqUJ5Zj

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

Earlier on Wednesday, the ICJ ruled in favour of India and ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of Jadhav and review his case, after agreeing with India's contention that his rights had been violated.

Jadhav, a former Navy officer, was purportedly “arrested” by Pakistan in 2016. He was convicted of espionage and terrorism by a Pakistani military tribunal and sentenced to death in 2017. 

The world court found that Islamabad deprived India access to Jadhav and its “right to render the assistance provided” by the Vienna Convention, and failed to arrange for legal representation to him.

The court called for a stay on Jadhav's execution, which it said constitutes “an indispensable condition for the effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence”.

President of ICJ Abdul-qawi Ahmed Yusuf said Pakistan is obliged to inform Jadhav of his rights without any delay and “provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.”

The 42-page verdict was ruled 15 to one. The only judge who ruled against is Tassdduq Hussain Jillani, a former chief justice of Pakistan.