Sharif, Army chief discuss Jadhav; not to bow to pressure

Islamabad, April 12: Amid warnings form India, Pakistan Prime Minister waz Sharif and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa agreed on Wednesday not to bow to any pressure over the death sentence awarded to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav. Sama TV quoted an official source as saying that the Army chief called on Sharif and took him “into confidence regarding ... Jadhav”. A Pakistani military court gave the death sentence to Jadhav on Monday on charges of espioge and waging war against Islamabad. New Delhi has warned that if Jadhav was hanged, it would be considered “premeditated murder” by Islamabad.
Pakistan says Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 in Balochistan. India says he was abducted from Iran. Pakistan has said Jadhav worked for the Research and Alysis Wing (RAW).
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said that Kulbhushan Jadhav will not be immediately executed, Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has said. Asif said three appellate forums are available under the law to Jadhav, whose family lives in Mumbai, Dawn online reported. According to the minister, the trial of Jadhav, who Pakistan said was working for the Research and Alysis Wing and arrested in March 2016 in Balochistan, lasted three and a half months. He faced charges of spying for India, working against Pakistan’s integrity, sponsoring terrorism and attempting to destabilise the country.
Asif said Jadhav had the right to move the Pakistan Army’s Court of Appeal against his conviction within 60 days, followed by submission of mercy pleas to the army chief and the President. Asif rejected Indian claims that Jadhav’s execution would be “pre-meditated murder”, saying due process of law was followed in the trial.
The minister said those involved in terrorist activities and conspiring against the security and integrity of Pakistan would not be allowed any concession, whether or not they lived in the country. (IANS)