India demands consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav for the 18th time

India today demanded consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav for the eighteenth time.  Jhadav an Indian citizen was sentenced to death by Pakistan Army on April 10.  India has also sought access to Hamid Nehal Ansari.

Earlier this week, two separate petitions were filed before the Lahore High Court seeking that Jadhav's mercy plea be rejected. Ministry of External Affairs today exchanged lists of nationals of each country lodged in the jails of the other country. According to the list Pakistan shared with India, at least 546 Indian nationals, including nearly 500 fishermen, are languishing in jails in that country.

The lists of prisoners were exchanged as per provisions of the bilateral agreement on consular access which was signed on May 21, 2008. As per the pact, lists of prisoners have to be exchanged twice each year, on January 1 and July 1. "India once again requests Pakistan for the early release and repatriation of Indian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats whose nationality has been confirmed by India," the MEA said. It said India remains committed to address on priority all humanitarian matters with Pakistan, including



those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen.

"India again requested Pakistan to grant full and early consular access to the Indian nationals lodged in the custody of Pakistan, including Hamid Nehal Ansari and Kulbhushan Jadav," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement in Delhi.

"In this context, we await from Pakistan confirmation of nationality of those in India's custody who are otherwise eligible for release and repatriation," it said.

The Pakistan foreign office said 219 Indian fishermen were released on January 6 and added that Pakistan would release another 77 fishermen and one civilian on July 10.  

Jadhav was in April sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and sabotage activities. India had moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the death penalty. The ICJ on May 18 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav. Ansari, a Mumbai resident, was caught for illegally entering Pakistan from Afghanistan in 2012 reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online and then went missing. He was later arrested and tried by a Pakistani military court, which pronounced him guilty of espionage.