ISLAMABAD – Attorney General of Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali would represent Pakistan in Indian spy Kalbhushan Jadev’s case at International Court of Justice, local media reported.
Earlier, Khawar Qureshi was representing the country in the case, but it is not clear yet whether he will be part of the legal team or not.
After the international court stayed the execution of Jadhav, the incumbent government was slammed largely by the opposition parties.
On Friday, opposition leader Khurshid Shah termed the verdict a huge “setback”, adding that it is evident how negligent the government is.
He also said that the government should have sent the attorney general to ICJ to present Pakistan’s case.
On May 18, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had submitted a resolution in Punjab Assembly against the stay of International Court of Justice in an Indian spy’s case.
Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed submitted a condemning motion in the House, maintaining that the ICJ’s decision is an intervention in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
On Thursday, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav until a final decision in the proceedings.
“Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings,” said Judge Ronny Abraham, president of the court, as he announced the decision.
Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan’s Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.
Soon after his arrest, Pakistan Army released a video in which he was shown confessing to his involvement in spying for Indian agency RAW.
On the other hand, India has denied Jadhav was a spy, and accused Pakistan of “egregious violations of the Vienna convention” for not giving access to the detainee through a legal counsel.
