AG Ausuf to lead Jadhav’s case from Pakistani side, ICJ told

Islamabad, July 6 (IANS) Pakistan's Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali will lead in the case relating to Kulbhushan Jadhav -- who Pakistan claims is an Indian spy -- at the Inter-national Court of Justice (ICJ), the world court has been informed.

The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has communicated to the ICJ registrar at The Hague that Ausaf would be the agent for Pakistan in the case and Foreign Affairs Director General Mohammad Faisal would continue to act as co-agent, Dawn online reported on Thursday.

The term "agent" is described as a top functionary of the government who leads a delegation to represent Pakistan and usually opens arguments or presents a framework followed by the legal team in the ICJ.

After a meeting between ICJ President Ronny Abraham and delegations of Pakistan and India on June 8 in the Netherlands, Ausaf had informed the world court about Islamabad's intention of appointing an ad hoc judge to the ICJ bench for all proceedings, including the substantive hearing in the Jadhav case.

All future exchanges or information between Pakistan and the ICJ will also be made through the AG's office, Dawn said.

The world court had on May 18 through an interim ruling stayed the execution of Jadhav, who has been charged with espionage and waging war against Pakistan, until the final order arrives.

Pakistan said Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by the country's Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa on April 10, was captured from Balochistan in March 2016, and had confessed to his association with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) -- India's primary foreign intelligence agency.

In videos released by the Pakistani side, Jadhav admitted to being involved in espionage and fomenting terrorism in Pakistan.

The military court of appeal has already rejected Jadhav's appeal against the death penalty. He later filed a mercy petition with the army chief which is under consideration.

The Foreign Office also informed the ICJ that the Pakistan government had already instructed the relevant departments to put into effect the world court's May 18 order.