ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected India’s demand that an Indian lawyer or Queen’s lawyer be appointed for the death row inmate Kulbhushan Jadhav to guarantee a free and fair trial in this country.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, responding to a question during a press conference, said India has been constantly making an “unrealistic demand” to allow a lawyer from outside Pakistan to represent Jadhav, on death row. by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage.
“We have informed India that only lawyers can appear before Pakistani courts who are licensed to practice law in Pakistan. This is in line with international legal practice. There can be no change in this position, ”he said.
Queen’s Counsel is a solicitor or solicitor, appointed as the Crown Counsel of the United Kingdom on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.
Earlier this month, the Islamabad Pakistan’s High Court ordered the federal government to give India another chance to appoint a lawyer to represent Jadhav and postponed the hearing for a month.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s parliament extended for four months an ordinance allowing Jadhav to appeal against his conviction to a higher court as required by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said the Pakistani government has failed to fulfill its obligations on the implementation of the ICJ ruling in letter and spirit.
“He has not yet addressed the fundamental issues, which include the provision of all documents related to the case, unconditional and unhindered consular access to Kulbhusan Jadhav and the appointment of an Indian lawyer or a lawyer for the queen to secure a trial. free and fair, “he said. she said at an online press conference Thursday.
In 2017, India addressed the ICJ against Pakistan for denying Jadhav consular access and defying the death sentence imposed on him by a military court.
The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan should undertake an “effective review and reconsideration” of Jadhav’s conviction and sentence and also grant consular access to India without further delay.
India has criticized Pakistan for taking a “ridiculous” approach in denying Jadhav legal remedies available against his death sentence in violation of the ICJ order.
Fifty year old retiree Indian Navy Officer Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.
To a question about raising Gilgit-BaltistanWith full-fledged province status, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said the reforms in the UK were an ongoing process including political, administrative and economic reforms.
“(Granting province status) has been a long-standing demand from the people of Giligit Baltistan.
These reforms will continue in accordance with the needs of the people of Gilgit Baltistan, “he said.
India has clearly communicated to Pakistan that all the union territories of Jammu and cashmere and Ladakh, including the Gilgit and Baltistan areas, are an integral part of the country by virtue of their fully legal and irrevocable adherence.
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