ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and the de facto foreign minister Sartaj Aziz on Friday shared with media the state’s charge sheet against Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and a timeline of his trial.
Aziz told a press conference that Jadhav had been held responsible for the following terrorist activities in Pakistan:
Sponsored and directed IED and grenade attacks in Gwadar and Turbat; directed attacks on a radar station and civilian boats in the sea opposite to Jiwani Port; funded subversive secessionist and terrorist elements through hawala/hundi for subverting Pakistani youth against the country, especially in Balochistan; sponsored explosions of gas pipelines and electric pylons in Sibi and Sui areas in Balochistan; sponsored IED explosions in Quetta in 2015, causing massive damage to life and property; sponsored attack on Hazaras in Quetta and Shias en route to and back from Iran; and abetted attacks through anti-state elements against LEAs, FC and FWO in areas of Turbat, Punjgur, Gawadar, Pasni and Jiwani during 2014-15, killing and injuring many civilians and soldiers.
On the occasion, Aziz also asked why Jadhav, who was handed the death sentence on Monday by a Field General Court Martial for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in the country, had been carrying official documents under an alias at the time of his arrest. “I would like to ask India why he [Jadhav] was using a fake identity and masquerading as a Muslim,” Aziz asked. “Why would an innocent man possess two passports — one with a Hindu name and other with a Muslim name,” he asked.
Reassuring critics that steps had been taken to ensure transparency during the trial of the Indian spy under Pakistan’s laws and the Pakistan Army Act, Aziz also provided a timeline of the trial and proceedings against Jadhav.
Confessional video statement of Kulbushan Jhadav: March 25, 2016; initial FIR in Counter-Terrorism Department Quetta: April 8, 2016; initial interrogation: May 2, 2016
Detailed interrogation: May 22, 2016; JIT constituted: July 12, 2016; confessional statement under Section 164 of CrPC: July 22, 2016; recording of summary of evidence: September 24, 2016; 1st proceeding: September 21, 2016; 2nd proceeding: October 19, 2016; 3rd proceeding: November 29, 2016; 4th proceeding: February 12, 2017; and death sentence endorsed: April 10, 2017.
Elaborating on these steps, the adviser said Jadhav’s confessional statement had been recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC, whereas the proceedings had been conducted under the Law of Evidence. Jadhav was also appointed ‘a qualified legal officer to defend him in court proceedings’, Aziz said. Witnesses recorded their statements under oath in front of the accused, who was allowed to question them, Aziz added.
“It should be clear from these details that Kulbhushan Jhadav was tried under the law of the land in a fully transparent manner,” Aziz said.