Pakistan Violated Obligations Under Vienna Convention In Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: ICJ President Informs UN General Assembly

International Court of Justice (ICJ) President Judge Abduylqawi Yusuf told the United Nations General Assembly that Pakistan violated its obligations under the Vienna Convention in the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, reports NDTV.

Presenting the report of the ICJ to the 193-member UN General Assembly on Wednesday (29 October), Yusuf said Pakistan had violated its obligations under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention and that appropriate remedies were due in this case.

In April 2017 ICJ had ruled that Pakistan must review the death sentence awarded to Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer. Jadhav was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court in a closed trial for the alleged charges of "espionage" without following due process.

India has maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran, where he was on a business visit and Jadhav was not allowed immediate consular access which is a violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The bench led by Yusuf had ordered an "effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.”

The court noted that Pakistan breached its obligation when it notified India some three weeks after Jadhav's arrest as it was bound to report immediately by the provisions of the Vienna Convention.

The court ruled that reparation and remedies to be granted and rights to consular access had been violated by Pakistan.