Jadhav Case: ICJ has rejected India's appeal for six months to file a plea

Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was arrested from Balochistan in March last year. On April 10, a Pakistani military court sentenced Jadhav to death for his "involvement in espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan". Pakistan said he was an agent for India's intelligence agency the Research and Analysis wing. From the time of Jadhav's arrest, to his sentencing, and until today, Pakistan has refused over a dozen requests from India to give him consular access. That was one of the main arguments in India's appeal to the ICJ for a stay on the execution of Jadhav.

NEW DELHI: Islamabad claimed on Thursday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejected India's request for six months to file a plea in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, ordering it to do so by September 13, reported Pakistani media.

Islamabad also said the international court told Pakistan it will have time until December 13 to file a reply, once India files its plea in September, reported Dunya News. And unnamed sources told Dawn the ICJ will begin hearing the case January 2018.

There has been no word from New Delhi about this development as of Friday morning.

Pakistan's attorney general Ashtar Ausaf Ali reportedly said the Hague-based ICJ's registrar informed Islamabad about this development through its consulate in the Netherlands.
 

Delegations from Pakistan and India met with the ICJ president June 8 to discuss the timeline of the case of the Indian national who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for "espionage", reported IANS earlier.

After India's request for more time, which it reportedly made at the June 8 meeting, Pakistan opposed it.


"India had adopted the stance that the matter was one of life and death, but Pakistan had stated that the ICJ is not a court of appeals," said Ali, according to Dawn.

He said Pakistan told the international tribunal India doesn't need as long as six months

"The ICJ is supposed to conclude whether or not Jadhav can receive consular access, for which a time period of two to three months is more than enough to file a response."

On May 18, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of Jadhav on a plea filed by India. The court stayed the execution pending a final decision on India's case.