Kulbhusan Jadhav updates| The Islamabad High Court instructed the Pakistan government to allow Indian authorities to appoint a legal representative

Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is on death row in Pakistan on charges of spying and terrorist activities, the Islamabad High Court on Monday said India should be provided “another chance” to appoint a lawyer to defend him.

The Islamabad High Court on Monday instructed the Pakistan government to allow Indian authorities to appoint a legal representative for former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Hindustan Times reported. However, the court specified that the lawyer should be a Pakistani national.

The hearing in the matter has been adjourned till September 3.

A two-member bench including IHC chief justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard a petition filed by the Pakistan government to appoint a lawyer for Jadhav.

Referring to an ordinance promulgated by Pakistan to give effect to ICJ’s order, the bench said: “He shall be specifically informed regarding his right to avail the statutory remedy provided under the Ordinance of 2020 and to authorise the Government of India to arrange legal representation on his behalf.”

Earlier, The government of Pakistan filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court to give Jadhav consular access. The petition said that Jadhav cannot counsel without the help of the Indian government. It also said that Jadhav has refused to file a review petition against his sentence.