Pak Army chief looking into evidence against Jadhav, will take a call on mercy petition

A statement by the Pakistani military’s publicity wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, had said in the past that Kulbhushan Jadhav was declared guilty of waging war against the country.

A military court in Pakistan on Sunday rejected the mercy petition of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national sentenced to death for alleged spying. The decision on his plea now lies with Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

People hold posters of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav and lights fire crackers as they celebrate the International Court of Justice order on Jadhav, in Ahmadabad. (HT File Photo)

The army’s public relations wing said Bajwa is analysing the “evidence” against Jadhav.

The mercy petition was filed before the army chief last month, it said.

Another mercy petition, filed by Jadhav’s mother, is also being examined by the Pakistani authorities.

“Gen Bajwa will take a final decision on the appeal of Kulbhushan Jadhav at the earliest. The decision of the chief will be based on merit,” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, director general of Inter Services Public Relations told reporters in Rawalpindi.

Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a secret military court in April for his alleged involvement in espionage and terrorist activities. The International Court of Justice in The Hague in May suspended his execution on India’s appeal.

Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.

However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy. (With agency inputs)