Pakistan’s Military Appellate Court on 16 July rejected Kulbhushan Jadhav’s clemency appeal.
The Pakistan Army issued the following statement, reported ANI:
The clemency appeal of Kulbhushan Jadhav was rejected by the Military Appellate Court. It is now with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who is looking at each aspect of Jadhav’s appeal and will decide on merits.
Jadhav filed a mercy petition before Gen Bajwa last month, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued on 22 June. The statement said the former Indian Navy officer had filed the petition after the Military Appellate Court rejected his appeal.
Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters on 16 July that Gen Bajwa was "analysing the evidence against Jadhav. The Army chief will decide on Jadhav's appeal on merit."
Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April for his alleged involvement in espionage and terrorist activities. The International Court of Justice in The Hague in May halted his execution on India's appeal.
Pakistan claims to have arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province on 3 March 2016, 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 inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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