Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, has stated there is ‘room for rethink’ in the RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case, confirming further that Pakistan will not carry out the death sentence until the hearing in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been concluded.
He stated this in an interview with The Hindu adding, “we would like this process to be over quickly, but until [it does], we are committed.”
The case pertains to the death sentence awarded by a military court in April to Jadhav for his involvement in spying and subversive activities in Pakistan.
The high commissioner said Jadhav would be able to appeal for clemency first to army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, and later to President Mamnoon Husain if his appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeals.
“There is a process that is ongoing, and if Jadhav’s appeal were rejected [by the court], that would be the time for the army chief or the president to reconsider the sentence against him.
Basit further added, “he has been tried, he has been convicted, and he has the right to appeal. If that is rejected, then he has the right to submit an application for clemency to the army chief, and if he denies it, then to the president.”
The high commissioner hence stated that Jadhav will be allowed to appeal for clemency first to army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, and later to President Mamnoon Husain if his appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeals.