Pakistan to amend Army Act to let Jadhav appeal in Civilian Court

Islamabad: Pakistan is amending its Army Act to allow Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav the right to file an appeal in a civilian court, according to Pakistan’s ARY News. Quoting well-placed sources, the news site reported that the move is being undertaken by Pakistan “in compliance with the International Court of Justice’s condition” to allow Kulbhushan to file an appeal in a civilian court.

Kulbhushan’s case is being tried in the Military courts and the Army Act law forbids such individuals or groups from filing an appeal or seeking justice from a civilian court. However, a special amendment is being carried out in the Army Act for the Indian nationals, it said. On July 17, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav and also continued to stay on his execution, as well as an “effective” review of the death sentence. On September 2, Pakistan allowed Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia to meet Jadhav at a Pakistani sub-jail after Islamabad granted him consular access in line with the ICJ direction.

India has said it will keep trying to see that the ICJ judgment which was in India’s favor, is fully implemented. Pakistan has not allowed a second consular meeting with Jadhav. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017. India approached the ICJ against the death sentence and also the denial of consular access to him. (IANS)

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