Pakistan urges ICJ to expedite Jadhav case hearing

Pakistan has urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to expedite hearing in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

This was conveyed to ICJ President Ronny Abrahim during a meeting on Thursday with delegations from Pakistan and India to discuss the timeline of the case of alleged Indian spy Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for espionage. The ICJ registrar and other officials were present in the meeting which lasted 45 minutes. The Court is set to announce the timetable of the hearing shortly, the News International reported.

A statement from the office of the Pakistan Attorney General said the meeting was not a hearing to discuss on the substance or merits of the case, but only to discuss procedural matters, including the timelines for submission of written memorials and to enable a hearing to be listed.

Jadhav was sentenced to death on April 10 on charges of spying. However, his execution was stayed by the ICJ on May 18 on India's request.

The delegation from Pakistan was led by Pakistan Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali. Other members of the delegation included Foreign Office Director General for South Asia Dr Muhammad Faisal, Foreign Office's Head of International Disputes Unit Ahmad Irfan Aslam and Pakistan's counsel

Khawar Qureshi. The statement said the ICJ President sought views of the parties as to the time required for submission of their written pleadings and supporting evidence, called memorials.

The AGP also informed the ICJ about Pakistan's intent to appoint an ad hoc judge who will sit on the bench for all proceedings in the case, including the substantive hearing.