India says the law is nothing new but a reiteration of an ordinance issued in 2019

India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for enacting shoddy law to bring into effect the judgement of the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, stating the “law simply codifies the shortcomings of the previous ordinance.”

“We have seen reports of Pakistan enacting into law the earlier ordinance that was ostensibly enacted to bring into effect the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to media query on the said Pakistani law.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s parliament passed a Bill to provide the right of review and reconsideration in the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the former Indian Navy officer who is on death row over spying and terror charges.

But India’s stand is that the law is nothing new but a reiteration of an ordinance issued in 2019.

“Nothing could have been further from the truth. As stated earlier, the ordinance did not create the machinery for an effective review and reconsideration of Jadhav’s case as mandated by the judgement of the ICJ,” the MEA Spokesperson said.

Pakistan continues to deny unimpeded and unhindered consular access to Jadhav and has failed to create an atmosphere in which a fair trial can be conducted, Bagchi added.

India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to abide by the letter and spirit of the ICJ judgement.