DG ISPR refutes claims of amendment to Army Act in Kulbhushan case

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor dismissed on Wednesday speculation regarding an amendment to the Army Act in relation to the International Court of Justice’s ruling on Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav earlier this year.

According to DG ISPR, the news is baseless and a few legal options are under-consideration regarding the ICJ ruling on the matter.

In a tweet, Maj Gen Ghafoor said that the update on the issue will be shared with certainty in due time.

Earlier, Indian media was speculating that following the ICJ ruling, an amendment to the Army Act was in the works. The amendment, if done, would have allowed Commander Jadhav to appeal against his conviction before a civilian court in relation to espionage charges, reports claimed.

In July this year, the ICJ ruled that India’s submission pertaining to the acquittal and release of Kulbhushan Jadhav could not be upheld.

According to the ICJ, the conviction and sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav were not to be regarded as a violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention.

"As regards India’s claim based on the Vienna Convention, the Court considers that it is not the conviction and sentence of Mr. Jadhav which are to be regarded as a violation of the provisions of the Vienna Convention," read the verdict.

Also read: Pakistan offers India consular access to Jadhav

The ICJ allowed India consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav and called on Pakistan to review and reconsider his conviction and sentence.

Jadhav was tried in a military court which sentenced him to death for espionage and subversive activities.

Commander Jadhav — an Indian Navy officer working for Indian covert agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) — was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Balochistan after he entered into Pakistan from Iran.