Kulbhushan ​Jadhav death sentence: Options before alleged Indian 'spy' now

New Delhi: A Pakistani military court on Monday awarded death sentence to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav after finding him guilty of "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities" against the country.

India reacted angrily, saying Jadhav had been sentenced to die "without observing basic norms of law and justice" and if this was carried out, it would amount to "premeditated murder".

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a Field General Court Martial awarded the capital punishment to Jadhav (46) and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had confirmed the sentence.

A brief ISPR statement described Jadhav, who allegedly used the alias Hussein Mubarak Patel, as an Indian Naval officer attached to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Albeit he has so far not been allowed access to legal representation, yet here are the options before Jadhav in present circumstances:

• The Indian national has 60 days to file an appeal before the Military Appellate Tribunal.
• After that, he has another 60 days to file a mercy petition before Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain.
• He can also make an appeal to the Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, reportedly in Balochistan, for "involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan".

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said New Delhi will do everything required to secure justice for Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.

"We condemn this act of Pakistan. I would like to assure the house that whatever needs to be done to provide justice to Jadhav, we will do," Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha.

 

Singh said that Pakistan ignored "basic norms of law and justice" in sentencing Jadhav.

According to Singh, Jadhav was kidnapped from Tehran and cannot be a spy as claimed by Pakistan.