http://www.deccanherald.com/content/606020/india-must-ask-copy-judgement.html
India must seek from Pakistan a copy of the judgement awarding death sentence to former navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav so the grounds on which he has been convicted is known, noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani has said.
"We want to know whether the sentence is right, and right as in, whether the conviction is right, then the question comes of what kind of punishment for that. "Suppose he has been convicted on stupid evidence, then that makes a much stronger case for India," he told PTI.
The eminent criminal lawyer was speaking on the sidelines of a conference on 'Improving Indo-Pak Relations' at the India International Centre here which was also attended by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, its former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.
At the end of the conference last night, commotion prevailed briefly at the venue, as several members of the media mobbed Basit and Kasuri with a volley of questions, against the backdrop of widespread outrage in India over the death penalty to 46-year-old former officer on charges of alleged "espionage and sabotage" activities.
"Reactions are flying thick and fast from every side, and media is also reacting to it strongly. But, one must know on what evidence he has been convicted, first of all.
"I should read what is the charge and what is the evidence on which they (Pakistan) have acted, and why this death sentence. Death sentence is justified only in those cases in which you cannot imagine a more serious offence, that is the law, as far as I can see," Jethmalani said.
The 93-year-old lawyer, who was born in Sindh province (now in Pakistan) of undivided India also urged media to exercise restraint while asserting both the countries must continue to engage peacefully to resolve outstanding issues.
"Today people are giving opinions on the case (Jadhav's) without reading the judgement. I have not read it, and I do not want to aggravate the situation. But, whole press seeking opinions, have they read the judgement, nobody.
"We have made our stand, but we want to see the judgement. So, we (India) must ask from Pakistan the certified copy of the judgement.. Before we burn bridges, we need to think properly," he said.
Asked if Pakistan would be willing to share the copy of the order, he said, "Have we asked for it, that it has not been given." Former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) A S Dulat described the situation as "crazy".
"The whole episode surrounding Jadhav's case is so crazy. I wonder if Pakistan would be willing to share anything," he said on the sidelines of the event. Dulat ran into Kasuri while he was entering the conference hall and left soon thereafter, after exchanging pleasantries.
During the event, some reporters had posed questions to Kasuri and Basit on the raging issue of death sentence awarded to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court. But both of them declined to answer.
Surrounded by a battery of reporters and camerapersons, Kasuri only said, "Even many civilians in Pakistan have been tried by military courts." During his talk at the conference, Pakistan's foreign minister said, both sides must not allow things to drift away and that it is in Islamabad's interest to have good relations with India.
At the same time, he admitted that things between the two neighbours are not looking good.
"Relationship is not normal right now. Rhetoric not particularly good on either side of the border. I must admit I was initially hesitant, but it is these times that we must persist and talk about peace," he said.
India has warned Pakistan of the "consequences" Jadhav's hanging could have on their ties and vowed to go "out of the way" to save him amid pervasive outrage in the country.
**********
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/605998/army-veterans-protest-jadhavs-death.html
New Delhi, Apr 12, 2017, Press Trust of India
The protesters were led by Delhi Assembly legislator Col (retd) Devinder Sehrawat. They also handed over a memorandum to the authorities at the Pakistan High Commission in Chanakyapuri.
A group of army veterans today staged a protest near the Pakistan High Commission against the death sentence awarded to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The protesters were led by Delhi Assembly legislator Col (retd) Devinder Sehrawat. They also handed over a memorandum to the authorities at the Pakistan High Commission in Chanakyapuri.
"We urged the Pakistan High Commissioner to communicate the outrage over the unacceptable treatment meted out to Jadhav," Sehrawat said.
"Pakistan is creating problems for itself and will have to payback if it continued with such actions. We request the country to take the case of Jadhav seriously and think over continuing any relationship with Pakistan," he said.
Nearly two dozen ex-servicemen, including Col (retd) Ravi Tokas and Col (retd) KPS Rana, took part in the protest.
India has warned Pakistan to consider the "consequences" on bilateral ties if Jadhav is hanged in the alleged espionage case and vowed to go "out of the way" to save him amid an outrage throughout the country.
Jadhav was "arrested" on March 3 last year by Pakistani security forces in the restive Balochistan province after he reportedly entered from Iran. Pakistan has alleged that Jadhav was "a serving officer" in the Indian Navy and deputed to the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
The Pakistan Army had released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest.
India has acknowledged that Jadhav served with the navy but denied he has any connection with the government.
