FM Qureshi hopeful of Pakistan’s victory in Kulbhushan Jadhav case

• Kulbhushan Jadhav case trial expected to take place in the International Court of Justice in February 2019
• FM Qureshi said, “The nation should be ready as we will have to take some bitter decisions. ”
• FM reaffirmed the formation of South Punjab province
• Complaint about blasphemous cartoons lodged with the international committee

MULTAN: Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said he is hopeful that Pakistan will win the case against convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“We have solid evidence against Jadhav and are hopeful we will win the case in the ICJ,” Qureshi said while speaking to media in Multan.

The foreign minister said that Pakistan will make all efforts to present its stance in an effective manner before ICJ, a world court that sits in The Hague.

The trial has been set for hearing in February 2019. The hearing is reportedly scheduled to last at least a week and would be carried out on a daily basis next year.

India had moved the ICJ against after Jadhav was arrested and sentenced to death by Pakistan for espionage and subversive activities last year.

Furthermore, Qureshi said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had represented the people in his inaugural address to the nation and had urged to support him in fulfiling his mission.

“We will move forward under the leadership of PM Imran. The nation should be ready as we will have to take some bitter decisions. ” the foreign minister said.

CHANGE OF DIRECTION IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 

Qureshi said that the international community wishes for peace in Afghanistan, and both countries should ponder upon the challenges ahead of them together.

Extending Eid-ul-Azha greetings to millions of Muslims in India, he also welcomed greetings by India and said that changing times demand a new direction in foreign policy.

He said they intend to uplift the deprived and backwards areas of the country and the direction of the party manifesto will be known within the first 100 days.

He also reaffirmed the formation of South Punjab province and hailed the positive outlook of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Regarding the publication of blasphemous caricatures in the Netherlands, he said that they have registered a strong protest with the international community.