Pakistan has solid evidence against Kulbhushan Jadhav: FM
The foreign minister hopes Pakistan will win Kulbhushan Jadhav case in ICJ
MULTAN (Dunya News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that Pakistan has solid evidence against Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav Islamabad would effectively present its case against the Indian agent in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Addressing a press conference in Multan on Thursday, he said that Pakistan’s foreign policy could not be improved during the last four and a half years as the country had no foreign minister.
The minister said that he would attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in September and present Pakistan’s case in an amicable way before the world.
Qureshi went on to say that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken big decisions in the federal cabinet’s first meeting.
“the issues of international level were mostly of complex nature which needed consistent presentation of the country’s viewpoint before the world, while, changes in circumstances also required the same,” he said and added Pakistan welcome’s India’s message on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
The foreign minister hoped that Pakistan will win Kulbhushan Jadhav case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as Islamabad has concrete evidence. Now, Pakistan’s viewpoint would be presented at international forums in a, effective way, he added.
Responding to a question about the effectiveness of UN, Qureshi said some people were frustrated due to the role of the organization, however, it was still an important forum.
To another question, he said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was also an important forum and there was need to improve its functioning. The issue of blasphemous caricatures should have been raised by the OIC, which should present the Muslims concerns before international community, he added.
Responding to a question about peace in Afghanistan, the foreign minister said both the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan had rendered many sacrifices. The both countries wanted to resolve problems impeding restoration of peace, He added.
As regards the prime minister’s address to the nation, Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan was well aware of the masses’ problems, which, he had mentioned in his address and sought their continuous support so that he could meet the challenges of economy.
He said the government needed people’s support as it would have to take some difficult decisions. Imran Khan, however, would not disappoint the masses, he added.
He said during the first 100 days, the new government would set its direction. It would be very important to hold the corrupt as without doing so the delivery of services by different departments could not be improved, he added.
Qureshi said in the past, the people were burdened through indirect taxation. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan had a vision to bring the wealthy people in the tax net, he said.
About the South Punjab province, he said the new province would become a reality and for that purpose, the government would seek cooperation of the opposition parties. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Qamar Zaman Kaira had issued positive statements regarding the South Punjab province.
Qureshi said he had got a briefing from Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua. He would keep the prime minister abreast about all the issues, he added.
ICJ sets February 2019 Date
The ICJ will take up the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a military court on spying charges. Sources said that the case will be heard February 2019. “The ICJ will hear the case on daily basis for a week during February 19 to February 25, 2019.”
In July, Pakistan’s Foreign Office’s Director in India Dr Fareha Bugti had submitted the 400-page document as Pakistan’s second rejoinder to India’s last reply on April 17. The rejoinder was prepared by a team of experts led by Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan.
India had moved the ICJ in May 2017 after Jadhav, 48, was sentenced to death by a military court on charges of espionage. A 10-member bench of the international court on May 18 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.
In an application filed in ICJ, India had termed the conviction as “egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.” India states that it has been repeatedly denied consular access to Jadhav.
India had alleged that Pakistan arrested Jadhav in Iran and "was then shown to have been arrested in Baluchistan" on March 3, 2016. It claims that he was carrying out business in Iran after being retired from Indian Navy.
India had also alleged that they learnt of the arrest through a press release and were later notified on March 25, 2016.
