Jadhav case: Attorney General Ashtar to represent Pak at ICJ

Pakistan's Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali will plead Pakistan's case at the International Court of Justice against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.

The development came after the Pakistan Foreign Office was criticised for its "poor handling" of the case and for its choice of Britain-based Khawar Qureshi as counsel.

The ICJ on May 18 stayed the execution of Jadhav.

The Attorney General said the country's defence against India's case before the ICJ was prepared by the government in consultation with all stakeholders, including the military establishment, Geo TV reported. 

He also dismissed criticism on why Pakistan accepted the global court's jurisdiction.

Referring



to the Pakistan's March 2017 declaration in relation to the jurisdiction of the ICJ, Ausaf said that the ongoing propaganda on the issue was misplaced.

"The correct position is that Pakistan had signed off to an unconditional declaration to agree to the jurisdiction of the ICJ way back in September 1960. In March 2017, we made a declaration of exceptions reservations, and conditions," Ausaf said.

He said that the original -- 1960 declaration -- was without reservations and exceptions. Pakistan prior to March 2017 had signed up to an ipso facto (by the fact itself) compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ.

"We had become signatory to a declaration of submission to jurisdiction without any exceptions in September 1960."