India hands over mother's appeal to Pakistan

India on Wednesday handed over to Pakistan an appeal by the mother of retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death by a military court, to the appellate court, initiating a process to get his conviction overturned.

The appeal on behalf of Jadhav was given to Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale, who also handed over a petition by Jadhav's mother seeking the Pakistan government's intervention for his release and expressing the desire to meet him.

Bambawale, who met Janjua, also made a fresh request for consular access to Jadhav, the external affairs ministry said in press release in New Delhi. This is the 16th request for access. However, Pakistani media reported that Janjua turned down Bambawale's demand saying, "access under the (bilateral) agreement is meant for prisoners and not for spies."

Pakistan has rejected India's request for consular access to Jadhav 15 times. Pakistan Army had also previously ruled out granting India consular access to Jadhav, who was sentenced to death for "espionage and subversive activities".

The external affairs ministry said the Indian envoy also "handed over an appeal by the mother.