Kulbhushan Jadhav files mercy petition before Pakistani military chief

Jadhav had earlier appealed to the Military Appellate Court which was rejected.

Pakistani military announced on Thursday that Indian Naval officer Kalbhushan Jhadav has filed mercy petition before Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Mr.Jhadav had been sentenced to death by a military court in April this year for espionage and terrorism. International Court of Justice in May halted the execution on India's appeal.

In a statement by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Mr. Jhadav has filed the mercy petition before the army chief with a confessional statement that he was involved in subversive activities in Baluchistan. Mr. Jhadav was arrested last year from Baluchistan province after which the military released a confessional video of Mr. Jhadav admitting to espionage and terrorism charges.

Pakistan has maintained that Mr. Jhadav will still have chances of appeal before the President or any High Court or the Supreme Court. Jhadav had earlier appealed to the Military Appellate Court which was rejected. Under the law he is eligible to appeal for clemency to the COAS (which he has done) and if rejected, subsequently to the President of Pakistan.