PML-N bungled Jadhav case: Qureshi

MULTAN: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) "bungled" the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Speaking at a press conference here after laying the foundation stone of Albadar Park at Shah Rukn-e-Alam colony, he said the incumbent government had taken measures in line with the recommendations of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), say media reports. He was referring to the International Court of Justice (Review and Re-consideration) Bill, 2020 which was passed in a recent session of the parliament along with 20 other bills.

The law will make provisions for fresh consular access to Jadhav under the ICJ judgment. Qureshi said India did not wish consular access to Jadhav and under its guise wanted to drag Pakistan back into the international court.

The foreign said the government’s aim was only to implement the ICJ’s recommendations and “hopefully the members of the opposition will understand India’s treacherous moves and act sensibly”.

In response to a question, the foreign minister said Pakistan had no intention to provide space for military bases to the United States and that there was nothing to hide regarding the recent visit by the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as it was a routine visit. He further said, “We want transparent accountability; we do not want revenge”. Qureshi said everyone’s honour was equally precious and everyone had the right to a fair trial but the government will not allow anyone to hinder the process of accountability.

Referring to the budget, he said Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin had made it clear that there was no intention of a mini-budget.

“Ahsan Iqbal neither read the budget document nor listened to the budget speech and gave an [uninformed] statement,” he said.