MULTAN – Newly-appointed Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi vowed on Thursday to effectively present Pakistan’s stance in a case against Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Talking to media, Qureshi maintained: “We have strong evidence against Jadhave,” besides expressing hope that Pakistan will win the case at the international court.
The comments of the foreign minister come as the ICJ has set February 2019 as the window for the hearing of the case against convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav on Wednesday.
The world court will hear the case on daily basis for a week in February next year, sources claimed.
Jadhav — an on-duty Indian navy officer working for Indian covert agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) — was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Balochistan, after he entered into Pakistan from Iran.
Jadhav was tried in a military court which sentenced him to death for espionage and subversive activities.
On May 8 2017, Indian lawyers team led by Harish Salve filed an application before the ICJ seeking the suspension of the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav by the courts in Pakistan.
After hearing this application, the President of ICJ passed an order directing the stay of the death sentence.
India had submitted its pleadings to the ICJ on September 13, 2017. The Indian stance was dismissed by Pakistan in its counter-pleadings, which were submitted on December 13 that year.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/icj-to-resume-hearing-on-kulbhushan-jadhav-case-in-february-next-year/
CREATION OF SOUTH PUNJAB
The foreign minister while talking about the creation of a new province in Punjab said, “We will try to realise the dream of south Punjab province”.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government needs the support of Pakistan People’s Party in the creation of a new province in Punjab, said the foreign minister, adding that two-third majority is required in the parliament for the creation of the new province.
During the election campaign, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that south Punjab would be carved out of Punjab as a separate province.
Taking the first step in this regard, a newly-elected PTI lawmaker on August 15 submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly asking for initiating the process for creating a South Punjab province.
The resolution submitted by MPA Mohsin Leghari stated, “This House strongly recommends to the federal government [that it] initiate the process of creation of Southern Punjab [province] immediately.”
NATION SHOULD PREPARE FOR BITTER DECISIONS
The newly-elected minister said that there is need to put special focus on the economy of the country. He added that the nation should remain prepared as the country need to take hard decisions.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, we will try to go forward,” Qureshi said while referring to challenges to the country.
He said that Khan was very well aware of problems being faced by the public, adding that 100-day manifesto will set the direction of the country.
RELATIONS WITH AFGHANISTAN
Qureshi also said that the “international community wishes for peace in Afghanistan”. He added that efforts will be made to improve ties with the neighbouring country in a suitable environment.
