Highlights: UN court stays Kulbhushan Jadhav hanging; Modi govt says will do everything to save him

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Updated: May 18, 2017 19:21 IST

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said on Thursday Pakistan cannot hang Kulbhushan Jadhav for now. The world court ordered Islamabad to give consular access to Jadhav.

“Pakistan shall take all measures to ensure that Jadhav is not hanged until a final decision by the court”, said ICJ judge Ronny Abraham.

“The circumstances of his arrest are in dispute... India should have been given consular access as per Vienna Convention”.

Pronouncing the court’s order, Abraham said the ICJ had jurisdiction in the matter.

Below are the highlights of the ICJ hearing and reactions after it concluded:

6.45pm: “In the annals of international law, this judgment is a great victory of the rule of law,” says finance minister Arun Jaitley.

6.31pm: It’s a great vindication of India’s stand and the entire Indian team at The Hague deserves to be congratulated, says Jaitley

6.29pm:

I hope concerned authorities in Pakistan have heard, ICJ said that this order creates legally binding international obligation: MEA Spox pic.twitter.com/03GMPFptMB — ANI (@ANI_news) May 18, 2017

6.09pm: Govt will do everything possible to save the life of Kulbhushan Jadhav, says ministry of external affairs

6.07pm: MEA hopes the ICJ provision order will hopefully address egregious violation of rights of Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan.

6.05pm: ICJ order is unanimous and unambiguous, is essential first step in Kulbhshan Jadhav getting justice, says MEA at press briefing.

6.03pm: Pakistan must inform ICJ of all measures taken to implement its order: MEA

5.56pm: “We do not accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ in matters related to the national security of the country,” Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria was quoted as saying by the Dunya TV.

5.49pm: “Pakistan must learn from its own mistakes,” says Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh who died in a Pakistan jail in 2013.

5.46pm:

Friends of Kulbhushan Jadhav celebrate in Mumbai on Thursday. ( AP )

5.38pm: India is desperately tried to divert the world’s attention by presenting Kulbhushan’s case from a humanitarian angle, says Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson

5.36pm:

India is trying to defend a person whose actions led to killing of scores of innocent Pakistanis-Pak Foreign Ministry Spox #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/BiZ7dG4Gm8 — ANI (@ANI_news) May 18, 2017

5.22pm: “Pakistan will present solid evidence against KulbhushanJadhav in the International Court: Pakistan foreign office spokesperson.

5.15pm: India has been “trying to hide its real face” by taking Jadhav’s case to ICJ, says Pakistan foreign office spokesperson.

5.13pm: “It is a victory for India and a big blow for Pakistan,” says former defence minister AK Antony.

5.12pm: Head of Pakistan’s delegation at the ICJ, Moazzam Ahmad Khan, terms the order staying Jadhav’s execution as a “basic ruling”.

5:00pm: Finance minister Arun Jaitley praises former solicitor general Harish Slave, who represented India at the ICJ

Well done! #HarishSalve - you have done India Proud. — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 18, 2017

Relief and satisfaction as the #ICJ order has come- Rule of Law has won. — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 18, 2017

4:55pm: The ICJ’s decision to stay the execution of Shri Kulbhushan Jadhav gives the people of India a deep sense of satisfaction and relief, tweets home minister Rajnath Singh

4:50pm: Celebrations outside Kulbhushan Jadhav’s residence in Powai. (HT Photo/Prashant Waydande)

4:30pm: PM NarendraModi expresses satisfaction at the judgement of ICJ in KulbhushanJadhav case, reports PTI

GoI must use the ICJ decision as a trigger to bring #KulbhushanJadhav back. ICJ has given a favorable decision: Manish Tewari, Congress pic.twitter.com/6ZL7p10LN3 — ANI (@ANI_news) May 18, 2017

4:26pm: I assure the nation that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi we will leave no stone unturned to save Kulbhushan Jadhav, tweets Swaraj

Victory of crores of Indians & the truth. I want to congratulate Govt: Dalbir Kaur (Sarabjit's sister) on #ICJ verdict on #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/DUFEr6G2mo — ANI (@ANI_news) May 18, 2017

4:10pm: The ICJ order has come as a great relief to the familly of Kulbhushan Jadhav and people of India, tweets external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj

Hope that final decision also comes India's way and we can see Mr.Jadhav come back home: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/FUpmHzJESj — ANI (@ANI_news) May 18, 2017

3:54pm: Pakistan shall inform the court of all measures taken in implementation of the final order, says ICJ

3:53pm: 150 day period for clemency given by Pakistan which ends in August suggests execution can happen immediately thereafter: ICJ

3:52pm: The court says Jadhav will not be executed before the court has given its final decision

3:51pm: ICJ stays Jadhav death sentence, says he will not be executed before August 2017.

3:49pm: The mere fact that he may be executed is sufficient to demonstrate that there is a risk of irreparable damage

3:47pm: It appears that the rights invoked by India in the present case are plausible, says Judge Abraham.

3:45pm: All parties under Vienna Convention have rights to provide consular assistance to their nationals, says ICJ.

3:43pm: ICJ rules it has prima facie jurisdiction to take up the case of Jadhav.

3:41pm: The court considers that the alleged failure by Pak to provide requisite consular assistance as well as alleged failure to allow communication appear to be falling under the provisions of Vienna Convention, says Judge Abraham.

3:40pm: Jadhav should have been given consular assistance under Vienna Convention, says Judge Abraham.

3:38pm: India requested consular access, says Judge Ronny Abraham.

3:35pm: Pakistan had sought India’s assistance in investigation, observes Judge Ronny Abraham.

3:34pm:

The Hague: International Court of Justice to pronounce order in #KulbhushanJadhav case, shortly. pic.twitter.com/0UZM6t4cJN — ANI (@ANI_news) May 18, 2017

3:32pm: Judge starts reading out the verdict.

3:30pm: The 11-judge bench has arrived and the verdict is expected to be delivered shortly.

3:05pm: At The Hague, India has demanded immediate suspension of Jadhav’s death sentence, expressing fears that Pakistan could execute him even before the hearing at the ICJ concludes.

2:45pm: India approached the ICJ on May 8 and accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by persistently denying consular access to Jadhav and conducting a “farcical trial” without a “shred of evidence”.

2:35pm: India challenged Jadhav’s sentence last week, basing its arguments around what it says have been violations of the Vienna Convention’s rules on giving countries access to their citizens accused of crime on a foreign soil.

2:15pm: Jadhav’s childhood friend Arvind Singh said he was hopeful that the ICJ would give a verdict in India’s favour. “We all are praying that he is delivered justice. Almost everybody here is praying for him. We have been campaigning on various fronts for his safe return. We are very hopeful that the verdict is going to be in our favour. The way Salve ji has put his point, we are very hopeful,” he told ANI.

2:10pm: Prayers are being offered for safe return Kulbhushan Jadhav at a temple in Kandivali. (HT Photo/Prashant Waydande)

2:05pm: Ahead of the verdict, prayers are being held in several cities across the country for Jadhav’s safe return.

2:00pm: The verdict will be announced at 3.30 pm Indian time, three days after the United Nations’ highest court in the Hague heard arguments by India and Pakistan.