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Kulbhushan Jadhav case: International Court of Justice to give verdict today

by IBNS 18 May 2017, 08:26 am

Hague, May 18 (IBNS): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is all set to give its verdict on the case related to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.

A Pakistani court had earlier sentenced him to death after being convicted of espionage.

 Fighting to save Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national on death row in Pakistan, India on Monday told the International Court of Justice that there is an "immediate threat" that he may be executed any time that calls for urgent suspension of the sentence, media reports said.

"The situation is grave, it is urgent, and hence we approached this court at such short notice," senior lawyer Harish Salve, representing India, told the UN court as an an open hearing of the case was underway at the Great Hall of Justice at the Hague in Netherlands following India's challenge to Jhadhav's death penalty.

Jadhav, a former navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court last month after being convicted of spying.

 Describing it as "farcical," India said   Pakistan must ensure he is not executed until a court decision.

Salve said Pakistan had  repeatedly denied consular access to India, which violates  the provisions of Vienna Congress and no document of  Jadhav's trial process was given by Islamabad.

 "The basic rights of Jadhav were thrown to the winds," he said.

Last week, after India challenged the death sentence, Pakistan was asked by the International Court to put it on hold.