Sentiment against capital punishment may influence Jadhav case: Salman Haider

Commenting on the ongoing trial of Kulbhushan Jadhav's case in International Court of Justice (ICJ), former foreign secretary Salman Haider has pointed out that it will be highly influenced by a growing global sentiment against capital punishment.

"The court has its own dynamics, what happens next will depend on that. But the International Court Justice is greatly impacted by the growing sentiment against capital punishment worldwide and demand that other ways of delivering justice should be accepted," Haider told ANI .

He appreciated India for staving off the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, and said "We know that Pakistan doesn't have correct intentions in this case, but now the case is not in its hands."

He said as a result of the trial and widespread sentiment against the execution on charges of this nature, our national will be freed.

He added, "It is an act under the influence of animosity that the Pakistani Army is acting. We should not forget that it is the Pakistani Army and not in the hands of its civil administration which was involved in the case."

Haider said his view is that the life of the individual is very important and every effort is necessary to save him. It doesn't matter if we have to deal with a malign authority like the Pakistan Army.

The ICJ will today hear the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by Pakistan on charges of espionage.

The ICJ on May 9 had put a stay on the death sentence given by Pakistan to the alleged Indian spy.

The development came after India instituted proceedings against Pakistan, accusing the latter of "egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations" in the matter of detention and trial of Jadhav, and sought a stay on his death sentence.

Last month, Jadhav was sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan.

-ANI