A Pakistani parliamentary panel has approved a government bill that seeks a review of the conviction of death-row prisoner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-failed-to-appoint-lawyer-to-represent-jadhav-pak-court-claims-332957">Kulbhushan Jadhav</a>, complying with the directives of the International Court of Justice, according to a media report on Thursday.

The draft bill titled "the International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance"&nbsp;was discussed and approved by the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday despite stiff resistance from the Opposition.

Taking part in the debate, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem said the bill has been introduced in compliance with directives of the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-court-appoints-three-senior-lawyers-as-amici-curiae-in-jadhavs-case-318096"> International Court of Justice</a> (ICJ).

He warned that in case the bill was not adopted by Parliament, Pakistan could face sanctions for not complying with the ICJ's verdict.

Fifty-year-old retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.

In 2017, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/raised-demand-on-unconditional-access-to-kulbhushan-jadhav-mea-326647">Jadhav</a> and challenging the death sentence handed to him by a military court.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

However, the committee's members from the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) requested its chairman Riaz Fatyana to reject the bill, the Dawn reported.

However, Fatyana, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), decided to settle the matter through voting. He also tried to stop two PTI members from leaving the hall before voting.

Eight members voted in favour of the bill, while five opposed it, the report said.

The Opposition members termed the bill as NRO for Jadhav.

The NRO is the National Reconciliation Ordinance which former president and military dictator Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf offered to the-then exiled political leadership and under which several corruption cases against different politicians were dropped.

Aliya Kamran of the JUI-F accused the government of misleading the country's establishment, saying that they were not here to legislate for Jadhav and the bill should be presented before the public and bar associations for a public debate.

"The legislation is unnecessary since the judgement of former chief justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk has already said the constitutional courts can review the judgements of the military courts," Kamran said.

Syed Naveed Qamar of the PPP said that through the legislation, the government was trying to give Jadhav relief of appeal against the sentence of a military court which is not even available to a Pakistani citizen.

"This is tantamount to giving an NRO to Jadhav and "we oppose this bill," he said.

The law minister said his ministry had sought to pre-empt a possible Indian move of filing a contempt petition against Pakistan in the ICJ by promulgating the said ordinance.

In such a scenario, the country could face sanctions if the matter was referred to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), he said.

The minister pointed out that neither India nor Jadhav had filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court to seek relief permissible under the ICJ verdict.

Subsequently, the law ministry had to file a petition for the appointment of a lawyer for Jadhav which is pending adjudication.

A Pakistani court was informed on October 6 that India failed to appoint a lawyer to represent Jadhav in the case of the review of his death sentence by a military court in this country.

Earlier, Pakistan had again rejected India's demand that an Indian lawyer or a Queen's counsel should be appointed for Jadhav to ensure a free and fair trial in the case.

On October 8, India said that Pakistan has failed to address the core issues in Jadhav's case and pressed for an "unimpeded, unconditional and unhindered" consular access to him as ordered by the ICJ.

"The core issues need to be addressed if we have to have effective review and reconsideration as ordered by the international court of justice. Pakistan must show its intention to deliver on the core issues," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said.

A Pakistani parliamentary panel has approved a government bill that seeks a review of the conviction of death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav, complying with the directives of the International Court of Justice, according to a media report on Thursday.

A Pakistani parliamentary panel has approved a government bill that seeks a review of the conviction of death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav, complying with the directives of the International Court of Justice, according to a media report on Thursday. The draft bill titled "the International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance" was discussed and approved by the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday despite stiff resistance from the Opposition. Taking part in the debate, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem said the bill has been introduced in compliance with directives of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He warned that in case the bill was not adopted by Parliament, Pakistan could face sanctions for not complying with the ICJ's verdict. Fifty-year-old retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017. In 2017, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence handed to him by a military court. The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay. However, the committee's members from the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) requested its chairman Riaz Fatyana to reject the bill, the Dawn reported. However, Fatyana, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), decided to settle the matter through voting. He also tried to stop two PTI members from leaving the hall before voting. Eight members voted in favour of the bill, while five opposed it, the report said. The Opposition members termed the bill as NRO for Jadhav. The NRO is the National Reconciliation Ordinance which former president and military dictator Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf offered to the-then exiled political leadership and under which several corruption cases against different politicians were dropped. Aliya Kamran of the JUI-F accused the government of misleading the country's establishment, saying that they were not here to legislate for Jadhav and the bill should be presented before the public and bar associations for a public debate. "The legislation is unnecessary since the judgement of former chief justice of Pakistan Nasirul Mulk has already said the constitutional courts can review the judgements of the military courts," Kamran said. Syed Naveed Qamar of the PPP said that through the legislation, the government was trying to give Jadhav relief of appeal against the sentence of a military court which is not even available to a Pakistani citizen. "This is tantamount to giving an NRO to Jadhav and "we oppose this bill," he said. The law minister said his ministry had sought to pre-empt a possible Indian move of filing a contempt petition against Pakistan in the ICJ by promulgating the said ordinance. In such a scenario, the country could face sanctions if the matter was referred to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), he said. The minister pointed out that neither India nor Jadhav had filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court to seek relief permissible under the ICJ verdict. Subsequently, the law ministry had to file a petition for the appointment of a lawyer for Jadhav which is pending adjudication. A Pakistani court was informed on October 6 that India failed to appoint a lawyer to represent Jadhav in the case of the review of his death sentence by a military court in this country. Earlier, Pakistan had again rejected India's demand that an Indian lawyer or a Queen's counsel should be appointed for Jadhav to ensure a free and fair trial in the case. On October 8, India said that Pakistan has failed to address the core issues in Jadhav's case and pressed for an "unimpeded, unconditional and unhindered" consular access to him as ordered by the ICJ. "The core issues need to be addressed if we have to have effective review and reconsideration as ordered by the international court of justice. Pakistan must show its intention to deliver on the core issues," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said.

Pak parliamentary panel approves government's bill to seek review of Jadhav's conviction

Harish Salve who had represented India in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/big-win-for-india-icj-grants-consular-access-to-kulbhushan-jadhav-236703">the Kulbhushan Jadhav case</a> said he had challenged Pakistan's conduct in the case at the international court of justice(ICJ).

"I express my gratitude of my country to the ICJ for the manner in which it intervened in this case. It protected Kulbhushan Jadhav from being executed in a hearing which was put together in a matter of days," Salve said at a press conference after the ICJ allowed India consular access to Jadhav.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/icj-verdict-in-kulbhushan-jadhav-case-victories-and-worries-for-india-236722">Also Read: ICJ verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Victories and worries for India</a>

"The verdict is a relief," he said, adding, "the verdict gladdened our hearts."

"We made Pakistan adhere to the Vienna Convention," he declared. During the hearing at the ICJ, Salve had questioned the death sentence given to Jadhav by Pakistan's military court.

"Jadhav has&nbsp;to be allowed consular access," he said. "There has to be fair adjudication of consular access," he added.

"Pakistan repeatedly played slides of what it claimed was passport it had recovered from Jadhav. Not only did the court get drawn into it, the&nbsp;displaying of the passport led to the court to reject&nbsp;Pakistan's argument that Jadhav's nationality was uncertain," India's advocate&nbsp;in the Jadhav case said.

"I have a degree of personal satisfaction that a lot of adjectives were used by Pakistan, even in replying at court I characterise them as unfortunate."

"I said it's my upbringing and India's tradition which stood in my way of replying to them in that language," Salve added.

Watch Video:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-the-icj-said-in-kulbhushan-jadhav-case-236730/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The ICJ said a fair trial in accordance with the Pakistan constitution. If it's back in a military court with the same rule where outside lawyers aren't allowed, we aren't allowed, access isn't given, the evidence isn't given. It won't meet the standards."

During the trial at the ICJ, Salve asserted that Pakistan had "extracted confession" from Jadhav on spying in Pakistan. India had filed a claim against Pakistan before the ICJ in May 2017 arguing Islamabad had breached the 1963 Vienna Convention by not allowing diplomatic assistance to Jadhav during his secretive trial.

Upholding India's stand, the world court said that Pakistan had violated the 1963 Vienna Convention on consular relations by "depriving India of the right to render assistance provided for by the Vienna Convention to Jadhav".

The court found that Pakistan had "deprived India of the right to communicate with and have access to Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representation."

On the death sentence delivered to Jadhav by Pakistan's military court, the ICJ said that Pakistan must provide "by the means of its own choosing, effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav".

Harish Salve who had represented India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case said he had challenged Pakistan's conduct in the case at the international court of justice(ICJ).

Harish Salve who had represented India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case said he had challenged Pakistan's conduct in the case at the international court of justice(ICJ). "I express my gratitude of my country to the ICJ for the manner in which it intervened in this case. It protected Kulbhushan Jadhav from being executed in a hearing which was put together in a matter of days," Salve said at a press conference after the ICJ allowed India consular access to Jadhav. Also Read: ICJ verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Victories and worries for India "The verdict is a relief," he said, adding, "the verdict gladdened our hearts." "We made Pakistan adhere to the Vienna Convention," he declared. During the hearing at the ICJ, Salve had questioned the death sentence given to Jadhav by Pakistan's military court. "Jadhav has to be allowed consular access," he said. "There has to be fair adjudication of consular access," he added. "Pakistan repeatedly played slides of what it claimed was passport it had recovered from Jadhav. Not only did the court get drawn into it, the displaying of the passport led to the court to reject Pakistan's argument that Jadhav's nationality was uncertain," India's advocate in the Jadhav case said. "I have a degree of personal satisfaction that a lot of adjectives were used by Pakistan, even in replying at court I characterise them as unfortunate." "I said it's my upbringing and India's tradition which stood in my way of replying to them in that language," Salve added. Watch Video: "The ICJ said a fair trial in accordance with the Pakistan constitution. If it's back in a military court with the same rule where outside lawyers aren't allowed, we aren't allowed, access isn't given, the evidence isn't given. It won't meet the standards." During the trial at the ICJ, Salve asserted that Pakistan had "extracted confession" from Jadhav on spying in Pakistan. India had filed a claim against Pakistan before the ICJ in May 2017 arguing Islamabad had breached the 1963 Vienna Convention by not allowing diplomatic assistance to Jadhav during his secretive trial. Upholding India's stand, the world court said that Pakistan had violated the 1963 Vienna Convention on consular relations by "depriving India of the right to render assistance provided for by the Vienna Convention to Jadhav". The court found that Pakistan had "deprived India of the right to communicate with and have access to Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representation." On the death sentence delivered to Jadhav by Pakistan's military court, the ICJ said that Pakistan must provide "by the means of its own choosing, effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav".

We made Pakistan adhere to the Vienna Convention, says India's lawyer Harish Salve after Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict at ICJ

India's began its argument on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kulbhushan-jadhav-case-paks-case-irrelevant-says-india-as-hearing-begins-at-icj-198079">Kulbhushan Jadhav case</a> at the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Monday with former solicitor general of India&nbsp;Harish Salve asserting that "Pakistan was using the platform for propaganda purposes".

Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav has been in a Pakistani jail for the past three years <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-committed-to-implementing-icjs-decision-in-kulbhushan-jadhav-case-official-197543">after Pakistan authorities</a> claimed he entered the country through the Iran border and was arrested in Balochistan province on March 3rd, 2016.

A Pakistani military court had sentenced Jadhav to death two years ago on charges of espionage and terrorism. However, in May, 2017, the world court restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.

During the hearing, Salve said Pakistan had ignored thirteen requests for consular access and&nbsp;Jadhav wasn't informed about his right by Pakistan authorities.

"In April 2016 and FIR was registered against Jadhav. In May 2016, Jadhav was interrogated, and India sent reminders for consular access across May, June, and July," Salve said.

Jadhav was tortured by Pakistan for three years, Salve told the world court, adding that Pakistan was bound to provide consular access, however, it failed to follow convention.

Pakistan has been using this platform for propaganda, Salve said. "Pakistan embarrassed to disclose charges against Jadhav," Salve told the international court.

Jadhav's trial by military court hopelessly fails to satisfy even minimum standards of due process and should be declared "unlawful", Salve told the ICJ.

"It is an unfortunate case where the life of an innocent Indian is at risk," ex-solicitor general Harish Salve, who was representing India, said.&nbsp;

"Pakistan's story is solely based on rhetoric and not facts," he said.

The ICJ has set a timetable from February 18 to 21 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands.

India will be presenting its arguments today and Pakistan will get its chance to make its submissions on Tuesday. After that, India will be given a chance to reply on February 20 while Pakistan will make its closing arguments on February 21.

Pakistan's Attorney General Anwar Mansoor would lead the Pakistani delegation at the ICJ while Director General South Asia Mohammad Faisal would lead the Pakistan foreign office.

The Indian side led by Harish Salve also has Deepak Mittal, Vishnu Dutt, Vinu Rajamani, Luthar Angrezi, Cheta Ray, Arundhati Kelkar and Senthil Kumar.

Both sides will be given three hours to present their arguments in the first round and a maximum of ninty minutes in the second round. 
indian team&nbsp;

It is expected that the ICJ's decision may be delivered in the middle of the year. 
&nbsp;

India's began its argument on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Monday with former solicitor general of India Harish Salve asserting that "Pakistan was using the platform for propaganda purposes".

India's began its argument on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice at The Hague on Monday with former solicitor general of India Harish Salve asserting that "Pakistan was using the platform for propaganda purposes". Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav has been in a Pakistani jail for the past three years after Pakistan authorities claimed he entered the country through the Iran border and was arrested in Balochistan province on March 3rd, 2016. A Pakistani military court had sentenced Jadhav to death two years ago on charges of espionage and terrorism. However, in May, 2017, the world court restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case. During the hearing, Salve said Pakistan had ignored thirteen requests for consular access and Jadhav wasn't informed about his right by Pakistan authorities. "In April 2016 and FIR was registered against Jadhav. In May 2016, Jadhav was interrogated, and India sent reminders for consular access across May, June, and July," Salve said. Jadhav was tortured by Pakistan for three years, Salve told the world court, adding that Pakistan was bound to provide consular access, however, it failed to follow convention. Pakistan has been using this platform for propaganda, Salve said. "Pakistan embarrassed to disclose charges against Jadhav," Salve told the international court. Jadhav's trial by military court hopelessly fails to satisfy even minimum standards of due process and should be declared "unlawful", Salve told the ICJ. "It is an unfortunate case where the life of an innocent Indian is at risk," ex-solicitor general Harish Salve, who was representing India, said. "Pakistan's story is solely based on rhetoric and not facts," he said. The ICJ has set a timetable from February 18 to 21 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands. India will be presenting its arguments today and Pakistan will get its chance to make its submissions on Tuesday. After that, India will be given a chance to reply on February 20 while Pakistan will make its closing arguments on February 21. Pakistan's Attorney General Anwar Mansoor would lead the Pakistani delegation at the ICJ while Director General South Asia Mohammad Faisal would lead the Pakistan foreign office. The Indian side led by Harish Salve also has Deepak Mittal, Vishnu Dutt, Vinu Rajamani, Luthar Angrezi, Cheta Ray, Arundhati Kelkar and Senthil Kumar. Both sides will be given three hours to present their arguments in the first round and a maximum of ninty minutes in the second round. indian team It is expected that the ICJ's decision may be delivered in the middle of the year.

Pakistan embarrassed to disclose charges against Kulbhushan Jadhav, says India at ICJ