On Thursday, the opposition subjected the government to a barrage of criticism over the handling of the ICJ case concerning the death sentence of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The stay order issued by the world court is being characterized as a humiliating defeat for Pakistan as matters of its sovereignty have been interfered with by a foreign body. Many are claiming that this mishandling of the case was premeditated as a result of a secret deal struck between the Prime Minister and Indian businessmen Sajjan Jindal when the later met with the PM in Murree.
PTI’s Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood has demanded the PM disclose all details of the covert meeting between him and Jindal.
Marriyum said Pakistan fought the case before the ICJ professionally, urging the opposition parties to stop politicizing the matter.
In a statement, he raised seven critical questions on the matter and sought an explanation from the prime minister. He demanded that the PM to come to the National Assembly and explain why Pakistan failed to appoint an ad hoc judge because it had a right to do so and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue.
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He also demanded an explanation as to why the government had selected a lawyer who had not a single international law case reported from the UK Supreme Court and what was the reason to engage London Queen’s Counsel (QC) who was based in Qatar? He further asked why the government assigned the task to a novice lawyer who had never argued a case independently before the International Court of Justice and what was the reasoning behind the government’s decision to send a first-year associate from Attorney General’s Office instead of AG himself to the ICJ. Seeking an explanation why the government did not submit a written defense before May 15, Mr. Mehmood said today’s decision was a clear outcome of the rendezvous of Mr. Sharif and his Indian friend Jindal.
The PTI leader stated that questions are frequently being raised over the stance of Pakistan on the jurisdiction of the ICJ and added that the idea was gaining ground that the government deliberately adopted an irresolute and fragile strategy in the matter. Dr. Shireen Mazari, another PTI leader who is an expert in international relations, said she was not surprised by the judgment at all and accused the PML-N government of deliberately stumbling with this case to advance the interests of India. “They wanted the ICJ to give a stay. This was a game which started after Jindal’s visit to Pakistan,” she alleged.
She said that ICJ’s jurisdiction should have been rejected, but it was not done. She said even if the decision to fight the case had been taken, Pakistan should have gone there fully prepared but regretted that a Qatari lawyer with little experience and knowledge was hired.
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She said the Pakistani legal team reinforced the Indian argument regarding the issue of urgency by saying that Jadhav would be executed in three months instead of explaining the appeal process and review. She said Jadhav was a valued asset for the Indian government as he was not just a spy but a spymaster running cells in the country.
Jadhav was not only an Indian spy but was organizing terrorist activities in Pakistan and was arrested from its territory
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) while demanding convening of a meeting of the national security committee on the issue of Jadhav has observed that the case in the ICJ has been mishandled.
Talking to reporters, PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman said Pakistan failed to plead its case effectively and the counsel completed his arguments in 50 minutes against the allocated time of 90 minutes. She said Pakistan should have appointed its ad hoc judge under the relevant rules. Further adding that Jadhav’s issue should have been raised at the United Nations General Assembly.
She pointed out that Jadhav was not only an Indian spy but was organizing terrorist activities in Pakistan and was arrested from its territory. She said Pakistan wanted peace with India but not at the cost of national dignity.
In an effort to push back, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb cautioned the opposition parties that they should refrain from passing any judgment on issues of national security as it will be against the sovereignty of the country.
Marriyum said Pakistan fought the case before the ICJ professionally, urging the opposition parties to stop politicizing the matter.
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“One should think before passing any judgment or comments over issues pertaining to national security as we cannot compromise on it,” she said, adding that no leniency would be shown to the person talking against the interests of national security.
“It is time for the opposition parties to unite over the issues that are threatening our national security rather than criticizing the government,” said Marriyum, informing that the law and justice department is in the process of thoroughly reviewing the ICJ verdict.
“Pakistan has perused the case involving Jadhav at the ICJ, taking into account the national security affairs and followed all the legal procedures under constitutional bindings,” she said. “Jadhav has openly admitted to being a Research and Analysis Wing agent and to being involved in sabotaging peace in Pakistan.”
Pakistan had assigned the best and highly professional lawyer to fight the case, said the minister, also advised the media to play a responsible role in reporting on the issues related to national security.