Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday "appreciated" International Court of Justice's verdict for not ordering the "acquittal, release and return" of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national, who was awarded death penalty by a military court in Pakistan on charges of "espionage and terrorism."
The ICJ on Wednesday asked Pakistan to review the death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav, who India continues to recognise as a former Navy officer, kidnapped by Pakistan from Iran.
"Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release & return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law," Khan wrote on Twitter.
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A bench led by President of the Court Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ordered an "effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav".
The bench also ruled that Pakistan had violated India's rights to consular visits after his arrest.
Pakistan "deprived the Republic of India of the right to communicate with and have access to Mr Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, to visit him in detention and to arrange for his legal representation", the judges said.
The verdict in the high-profile case comes nearly five months after a 15-member bench of ICJ led by Judge Yusuf had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete.
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(With inputs from PTI)
