Pakistan Back to Dirty Tricks - Sentences Indian to Death without Trial

Kulbhushan Jadhav

An Indian national was sentenced to death by Pakistan on Monday after a sham trial in contravention of all international norms. While Pakistan claims Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, is a Spy working for RAW, India has accused Pak of cooking up a false case after abducting him from Iraq. Indian authorities expressed anguish over the news, saying the death sentence without a transparent and fair trial would amount to pre-meditated murder.

Indian defense experts have said that Pakistan has failed to provide any proof to support its allegations and also refused to provide consular access to India, a right given to any country under the Geneva Convention. 

Pakistan had accused Jadhav of creating war and unrest in Baluchistan and tried him under the Army Act and Official Secrets Act in an opaque manner. India reacted strongly to the news and summoned Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche. India also withheld the goodwill release of 12 Pak prisoners scheduled for Wednesday.

Pakistan was never known for honoring treaties or international rules, but this case has once again exposed its double standards to the world. While it allows free movement to dreaded terrorists like Hafiz Sayeed on its soil and keeps demanding more proof to show the involvement in terror activities in India, it has thrown all norms to the wind in case of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

- Karnataka Express Bureau.