‘What About Gujarat?’ Says Pakistan’s Defence Minister On Jadhav’s Prosecution

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif today (11 April) said Pakistan had followed “due legal process” in prosecuting Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav while dismissing claims by India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj that it was “premeditated murder”.

According to a report in Dawn, Asif brought up Kashmir, Gujarat and the attack on Samjhauta Express in response to Swaraj’s remark. The daily quoted Asif as saying,

He added that Pakistan’s attempts at reconciling the differences between the two nations fell through because New Delhi had failed to cooperate, reported the newspaper.

A Pakistan Army-run military court had on Monday (10 April) handed a death sentence to former officer of the Indian Navy, Kulbhushan Jadhav, claiming that he was involved in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi.

Swaraj today (11 April) said Jadhav was the victim of a plan that sought to cast aspersions on New Delhi while deflecting international attention from Islamabad’s record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism. She said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured Lok Sabha members of Parliament that the centre would do everything possible to save Jadhav. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati even urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter.

Even regular citizens took to the streets today in many cities in anger, to condemn Pakistan and extend support to Jadhav. Several protesters assembled near the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to express their solidarity with the former Indian Navy personnel.

With Inputs From ANI.