ICJ order blow to Pakistan's bogus stand, vindicates India: AG Mukul Rohatgi

NEW DELHI: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi today said the International Court of Justice order staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav was a blow to the bogus stand put forth by Pakistan and vindicated the position taken by India.

He said the interim order was a "big step" since India's stand was based on truth, justice and respect for human rights.

The top law officer was all praise for attorney Harish Salve saying he made India proud by scoring the first round of victory in the case of Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and subversive activity.

He also congratulated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the steps taken it in the matter.

Rohatgi said the ICJ decision will make Pakistan behave like a responsible nation and hoped that India will be provided consular access to Jadhav.

"The stand of the Indian government is vindicated and it is a big step towards the final decision. India's stand was based on truth and justice and respect for human rights. It is a pat on the back for India," he told reporters here.

He said the so-called trial in camera and the bogus stand put forth by Pakistan have been completely exposed by this decision which was a "victory" for India.

The attorney general said it was a unanimous decision of eleven ICJ judges who held that the issues of jurisdiction and merit will be decided later.

"As far as the judgement is concerned, it is binding on both the states because the final decision will decide the ultimate question of jurisdiction," he said.

"I hope Pakistan sees sense, comes back on track, behaves like responsible nation and gives consular access. Not just that but also the family should be given access to meet Jadhav," he said.

Rohatgi said, "Let us now hope that the next step which will be the final step sometime in August, also comes India's way and that's the time we can see that Jadhav comes back home," he said.

He described senior advocate Salve as a good lawyer who put forth arguments which made India proud.