In a major diplomatic and judicial victory for India at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), an 11-judge ICJ Bench today put on abeyance the execution order of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav until further notice.
Jadhav, an Indian national, had been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court, after a brief and surreptitious trial, wherein he was not allowed consular access nor to meet his family. Pakistan claimed Jadhav was an Indian spy and tasked with causing subversive activities.
In its verdict, the ICJ Bench held prima facie the Vienna Convention applied to the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. The case has become a major sticking point between the two nuclear powers of India and Pakistan.
“The decision to stay Jadhav’s execution pending ICS hearing is unanimous,” ICJ President Ronny Abraham observed. The Bench observed the 150-day clemency given by Pakistan, which ends in August suggests execution could occur imminently thereafter.
The court pronounced its verdict on India’s plea to restrain Jadhav’s execution by Pakistan. On Monday, India had moved ICJ seeking immediate intervention by the Court to expunge the death verdict.
India has always maintained Jadhav was a former Indian Navy officer and now a businessman with trade interests in Iran and other countries. According to the Indian position, Jadhav was kidnapped by the Taliban from Iran and then handed over to Pakistan authorities.
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