Pak moves ICJ for early hearing

New Delhi, May 23

After the setback received by Pakistan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that upheld India’s arguments and ordered a stay on the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Islamabad today asked the ICJ to hold early hearings in the case. 

In another development, reports suggest Pakistan’s Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali would brief the country’s Parliament and take the members into confidence in the case.

The Express Tribune, citing sources, reported that the Pakistan Foreign Office had sent a letter to The Hague-based ICJ’s registrar seeking a quick hearing, preferably over the next few weeks.

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Meanwhile, Dawn online quoted National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as saying that “the Attorney General has been invited to brief the MPs on the efforts the government has made so far”. Sadiq said the Attorney General would also brief the National Assembly about the “next likely steps in the case”.  

Pakistan’s legal team at the ICJ has come under a lot of critique and speculation has been rife that Attorney Khawar Quraishi, who represented Pakistan at The Hague, might be replaced. It is likely that Pakistan’s Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Al would attend the ICJ proceedings now. 

On May 18, the ICJ had stayed the execution of Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer  who, Pakistan alleges, is a terrorist and a spy and was arrested by its army from the restive Balochistan region last year. — TNS