ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard the petition seeking the court’s intervention to appoint a lawyer for Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national accused of espionage in Pakistan.
A three-member larger bench of the IHC, headed by Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah heard the case. While the Additional Attorney General (Add. AG) Tariq Khosa represented the government before the court.
The Aditional AG argued that the court had issued instructions to the lawyer of the Indian High Commission in December. However, the lawyer of the Indian High Commission has not yet responded to the court’s directives.
On the issue, Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the government of Pakistan had released 5 Indians in its jails. “Is the government of India satisfied with the Pakistan government’s efforts or not, we have to see,” CJ of IHC added.
Furthermore, noting the absence of the legal representatives of the Indian High Commission, Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the lawyer of Indian High Commission Barrister Shah Nawaz Noon should be present before the court in the next hearing.
Add. AG informed the court that the Attorney General’s absence from the proceedings is due to him having contracted COVID-19.
He further said during the proceedings that the Indian High Commission through its legal representation had put forth the precondition about the release of 5 Indians in Pakistani jails. Only after the precondition was met, the High Commission would consider pursuing the Jadav case.
Pakistan has released these 5 Indian nationals, those who had completed their sentences.
The case adjourned until 08th April 2021.
