RAWALPINDI: Convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav has made an appeal to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa for clemency.
He issued an apology on Thursday in which he appealed for mercy from army chief for his indulgence in terrorist activities. He asked for clemency from the Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. President Mamnoon Hussain and COAS Bajwa hold the right to acquit him of his charges.
Jadhav had confessed to spreading terrorism in Balochistan and Sindh. He had been sentenced to death for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan.
India had appealed against his death sentence in International Court of Justice (ICJ) and termed his conviction as egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The court had ruled stay on his punishment until the final verdict. It stated, “”Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings.”
ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor posted a second confessional video of Kulbhushan Jadhav Thursday in which he reaffirmed his confession to spread terrorism in Balochistan. The video is captioned, “Commander Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav, the serving Indian Naval Officer who has been sentenced to death on charges of espionage, sabotage and terrorism has made a mercy petition to the Chief of Army Staff.”
It was also mentioned that Jadhav admitted, in the plea, to his involvement in espionage, terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan and expressed remorse at the resultant loss of many precious innocent lives and extensive damage to property due to his actions. ISPR told he is seeking forgiveness for such actions he has requested General Bajwa to spare his life on compassionate grounds.
Earlier, the serving Indian Naval officer had appealed to the Military Appellate Court for mercy, but it was rejected. According to the law, he can ask for clemency to COAS. If his appeal is rejected by the army chief then he will repeat his appeal to the President. He will not be acquitted if both his appeals are rejected. ISPR has released his second confessional video, in which he admits to the acts of terrorism and espionage. The video depicts the cross-border terrorism sponsored by India in Pakistan. NNI