ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders on Thursday criticised the government over its failure to effectively present Pakistan’s stance in the International Court of Justice in the Kalbhushan Jadhav case.
PTI Central Secretary Information Shafqat Mehmood demanded the PM disclose all details of his meetings with Indian businessmen Sajjan Jindal. In a statement issued by Central Media Department on Thursday, Shafqat Mehmood said: “The PM should come before the House to explain why Pakistan did not appoint an ad hoc judge it had a right to and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue. Why did the government select a lawyer who has not dealt with a single international law case in the UK Supreme Court? What was the reason behind engaging the London Queen’s Counsel (QC), who is based in Qatar?” he asked.
“The PM should also explain why his government assigned this sensitive task to a lawyer who has never argued a case independently before the International Court of Justice. What compelled the government to send a first year associate from Attorney General’s Office, instead of AG himself to the ICJ?” he asked.
Mehmood claimed that the ICJ decision was the outcome of the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Jindal. “Questions were raised over the stance of Pakistan on the jurisdiction of ICJ. It seems the government deliberately adopted an irresolute and fragile strategy in this matter,” he said.
PPP leader Sherry Rehman said that Pakistan was ill-prepared to contest Kulbhushan Jadhav case in the ICJ.
In a major diplomatic embarrassment for Pakistan, the International Court of Justice on Thursday stayed the execution of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
According to details, the judge Ronny Abraham, president of the ICJ, also asked Pakistan to inform it of all the measures it has taken to implement the order.
Sherry Rehman said that the government had not taken the matter seriously.
