Kulbhushan Yadav case: ICJ to announce  verdict on Thursday

KARACHI: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce its verdict on the Kulbhushan Yadav case on Thursday.

The ICJ on Monday reserved judgment on the petition filed by India seeking to halt implementation of death sentence awarded by Pakistan to its spy Kulbhushan Yadav.

Pakistan has contested that the petition is inadmissible. While delivering the arguments in the ICJ, Pakistan maintained that the state would not deter in fight against terrorism and those sponsoring terror could not shake its resolve. DG South Asia in Foreign Office, Dr Faisal, argued that according to Vienna Convention, this court has no jurisdiction to hear such a case.

He said Indian Naval Commander Yadav was arrested by Pakistani forces during an operation in Balochistan province and he confessed to killing of dozens of innocent Pakistanis. He said the Indian spy was sentenced to death after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and he was given counsel to defend allegations against him.

Yadav was arrested on March 3 last year. India took the Yadav case to the world court on May 8, seeking immediate suspension of his death sentence.

New Delhi accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention in the case of Yadav who was handed down death sentence by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) last month for espionage and sabotage activities in Pakistan.

India said Pakistan had repeatedly denied consular access to Yadav. It also alleged that it was not informed of Yadav’s detention until long after his arrest and learned about the death sentence through the media.

Seeking to restrain Pakistan from giving effect to the sentence, India asked the ICJ to direct Pakistan to take steps to annul the decision of the military court.

While presenting Islamabad's stance in the ICJ, DG South Asia and Saarc, Dr Faisal said India had kept silence over the issue of passport recovered from the Indian agent.

Kulbhushan Yadav had confessed to committing terrorism in Pakistan.