The United Nations’ top court has fixed February 18-21, 2019, for the public hearing of convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav case between Pakistan and India.
In March 2016, Yadhav was arrested from Balochistan and he has confessed to spying for Indian intelligence services. He was convicted by a military court and sentenced to death.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold public hearings in the Jadhav case (India vs Pakistan) from Monday 18 to Thursday 21 February 2019, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, according to a press release.
In the first round, India will present its oral arguments on Monday 18 February 10 am-1 pm, while Pakistan on Tuesday 19 February 10 am-1 pm.
In the second round, India will present arguments on Wednesday 20 February 3 pm-4.30 pm and Pakistan on Thursday 21 February 4.30 pm-6 pm.
In May 2017, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of Indian spy Kulbhushan, who is convicted of spying.
Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in a unanimous and binding decision that Kulbhushan Sudhir Yadav must not be executed by Islamabad until they have had time to pass final judgement in the case.
But India has maintained he is not a spy, and has accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by failing to provide him with consular access, as well as breaking international human rights law.
The Indian stance was dismissed by Pakistan in its counter-pleading, submitted on December 13, 2017.
In its counter-memorial, Pakistan had stated that Jadhav was not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.
Later, in a public relations exercise, Pakistan on Christmas arranged a meeting between Jadhav and his mother and wife for about 40 minutes.
Pakistan has maintained that it was “open and transparent” throughout the meeting which necessitated a “comprehensive security check” of the visiting kin.
India submitted its second memorial in the ICJ in April this year.
“Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Yadav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings,” said ICJ President Ronny Abraham.
He also ordered Pakistan to inform the tribunal that it has implemented the decision, and stressed that ICJ decisions are binding on all state members.
