–Tells Indian PM Modi to contest upcoming elections on performance instead of anti-Pakistan slogans
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that India’s expectations of securing acquittal and release for convicted spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and its arguments in the ongoing hearing of the case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are “childish”.
Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, he said that India had not answered certain questions posed by Pakistan in ICJ. He questioned why India had not clarified the issue of Jadhav’s ‘retirement’.
“When did he retire? If he retired at the age of 47, then India must show the record and explain why he retired before the usual age,” Fawad said.
The information minister also said that Jadhav was travelling on an Indian passport, the authenticity of which had been confirmed by British investigators. “Pakistan could not have provided an authentic Indian passport,” he said, adding that Jadhav must have gotten it made in India.
Referring to India’s claim of Jadhav having been abducted from the Iranian city of Chabahar and brought to Pakistan, he questioned that why did India not propose an investigation to Iran and why did India not ask them if Jadhav disappeared from there and how did it happen.
He said that Pakistan’s case against Jadhav is very strong and has been presented brilliantly before ICJP while India’s claims are built on lies. He termed India’s demands of Pakistan acquitting Jadhav “childish”. He also said that based on Pakistan’s demands, a decision will be taken on merit.
The information minister said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary meeting on Wednesday condemned Indian aggression against Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama attack. He said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should run for upcoming general election based on his performance instead of taking up an aggressive stance against Pakistan.
“Modi has been in power for five years and he should highlight what he has done for the people instead of repeating the old rhetoric of blaming Pakistan,” he said.
Fawad also said that the no country has accepted India’s claim over this matter. “European Union (EU), Islamic countries and US President Donald Trump have commented on this issue and their comments reflect that nobody has accepted India’s claim over this matter,” he said, adding that the government was satisfied with the way the issue was handled by the foreign ministry.
Fawad further said that Pakistan wants normalcy to return to the region. “Prime Minister Imran Khan made an offer on Tuesday to investigate the matter or to hold negotiations with India if the latter consents because Pakistan wants to deal with this issue peacefully,” he said.
He said that Indian aggression over the matter is “childish” because if there is aggression then Pakistan Army is fully capable of responding in a befitting manner.
“The government and the Pakistan Armed Forces have the backing of the people of Pakistan and God willing, nobody would be able to harm us in any way,” he said.
He expressed concern over the way the ruling BJP and other extremist parties of India were treating the Muslims in India after the Pulwama attack and especially how the Kashmiris were being subject to hateful acts of violence. He said that no incident can be used as a foundation for inciting violence among the people because that is a highly inappropriate response.
He also called on the international human rights bodies to look into the matter immediately. “We will continue to raise our voice on this matter because it now deserves to be looked at with greater scrutiny and seriousness,” Fawad said.
