Pakistan Parliament passes bill to give Kulbhushan Jadhav right to appeal against conviction

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Parliament in its joint sitting yesterday enacted a law to give Indian death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav, the right to file a review appeal against his conviction by a military court. India had approached the International Court of Justice, ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence. 

After hearing both sides, the Hague-based ICJ issued a



verdict in July 2019, asking Pakistan to give India consular access to Jadhav and also ensure review of his conviction. The ICJ ruling had directed the Pakistan assembly to give it an effective review and reconsideration.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, a 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.