India dismissed the second video of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s ‘confession’ released by Pakistan calling it unauthentic. The government accused Pakistan of attempting to misinform the International Court of Justice, which is hearing Kulbhushan’s case. It said the country releases a ‘concocted’ video to validate the ‘dubious’ charges levelled against the Indian national.
“Manufactured facts cannot alter reality, and do not detract from the fact that Pakistan is in violation of its international obligation to India and Jadhav,” the statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs said. Kulbhushan was convicted by Pakistan’s military court in a fraudulent manner. It added.
“We expect Pakistan to abide by the order of ICJ staying Jadhav’s execution and desist from attempting to influence the ICJ proceedings through false propaganda,” it added.
The development once again brings out “the lack of transparency and farcical nature of proceedings against Mr Jadhav on concocted charges,” said MEA spokesperson Gopal Bagley.
Apart from video of confession, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also issued a statement. It claimed that Kulbhushan has filed his mercy petition before Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. However, it said his review petition before the military appellate court was overruled.
Bagley demands Pakistan to release the details of Kulbhushan’s mercy petition. “The details and circumstances of the alleged mercy petition by Jadhav are not clear and even the fact of its existence is doubtful, shrouded as the proceedings against Jadhav have been in opacity.”
“The Government has once again demanded earlier this week onsular access to Mr. Jadhav and reiterated his family’s request for visas,” the MEA statement added.
The next set of hearing in Kulbhushan’s case is scheduled at ICJ in August.
