India given until December 1 to appoint counsel in Kulbhushan Jadhav case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has given another chance to India to appoint a counsel for spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

During the hearing on Monday by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, the court was informed by Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan that the government was doing everything to ensure the International Court Justice's (ICJ) directives.

The ICJ had directed Pakistan to inform Jadhav of his rights under Article 36 and grant India consular access. The court had also ruled that Pakistan should review the case while considering its laws.

However, the AG said, New Delhi had raised several objections and deliberately did not want to be part of the court proceedings.

Indian High Commission counsel Shahnawaz Noon was also present before the IHC for the release of another convicted Indian spy, Mohammad Ismail. The bench asked him why Jadhav was not being provided an attorney. Noon replied that he was denied the copy of trial proceedings.

At this, Justice Minallah said that a petition can be filed in the IHC for provision of necessary documents required for the court’s hearing. Noon said that he would need some time to seek directives from the Indian High Commission.

The IHC bench has given him until December 1 to decide and adjourned the case proceedings.