New Delhi: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict that Pakistan must review the death sentence awarded to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav and grant him consular access was presented by the Pakistan media as a victory for the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Major publications such as the 'Dawn', 'The Express Tribune' and Geo TV reported that the ICJ ruling was dismissive of India’s plea seeking Jadhav's acquittal and release.
Calling Jadhav a "self-confessed Indian spy", they emphasised on the rejection of India’s plea for annulment of the military court order at The Hague.
While Geo TV ran the headline "ICJ dismisses India’s plea for Kulbhushan Jadhav’s acquittal, release", 'Dawn' said "ICJ rejects India’s plea for Jadhav's return, grants consular access".
The ICJ on Wednesday announced its verdict on India’s petition challenging the death sentence given to Jadhav, who has now been allowed consular access. The court has directed Pakistan to have an “effective review and reconsideration of his conviction and sentences".
“Islamic Republic of Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Mr. Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officer’s access to him in accordance with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations," read the verdict.
According to news reports in the Pakistani media, “Jadhav, a serving commander in the Indian Navy working for India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Balochistan. June 2017, the Indian spy filed a mercy petition against his death penalty while India approached the ICJ against the conviction. The ICJ stayed his execution".
News websites across the border also carried a hyperlink to Jadhav’s confessional statement transcript. “Pakistan had rejected all Indian allegations. It said the evidence obtained from Jadhav after his arrest and during the criminal process leading to his conviction was amply demonstrating his activities in fomenting terrorism and engaging in espionage within Pakistan," reported 'Dawn'.
According to Geo TV, “The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday found that India’s submission pertaining to the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s could not be upheld."
They also mentioned that according to the ICJ, Pakistan “deprived India of the right to communicate and have access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representation and thereby breached the obligations under Article 36, paragraph 1 (a) and (c), of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations".
On May 18, 2017, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of Jadhav until a final decision was made in the proceedings.
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