Government mishandled Kulbhushan case at ICJ: Khursheed

Terms decision a setback

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Friday termed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a 'setback' for Pakistan and said that the government's negligence is evident over the matter of Kulbhushan Yadav, a secret service agent belonging to Indian RAW, who coordinated terrorist activities in Pakistan.

"The government mishandled the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav at the International Court of Justice, and if Pakistan had a foreign minister, maybe the outcome of the ICJ hearing would have been different," he said while talking to newsmen here at his chamber in the Parliament House.

The opposition leader said the prime minister had kept the Foreign Ministry with him and should have shouldered his responsibility as the issue of Kulbhushan pertains to national security.

Saying the handling of the Kulbhushan issue has given rise to suspicions, Khursheed Shah pointed out that Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the army provided the lawyer for the case involving the Indian spy. "The military usually is not as much versed in judicial matters," he added.

He claimed that the government tried to keep secret the meeting of Indian businessman Sajjan Jindal and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with neither the premier nor his spokesperson divulging what transpired in the meeting.

The opposition leader reiterated the demand that the DawnLeaks report should be presented before parliament.