Social media platforms flooded with petitions to save Kulbhushan Jadhav
Mrityunjay Bose, Mumbai, Apr 13, 2017, DH News Service:
Social media platforms flooded with petitions to save Kulbhushan Jadhav. Representative image
Social media platforms including Change.org are flooded with petitions on suspension of death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav, handed over by a military court in Pakistan and his safe and secured release to India.
Individuals, activists and politicians have petitioned the Indian government, Pakistani government and the United Nations demanding the release of the Mumbai-based businessman, Jadhav, 46, who has been dubbed as an agent of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) by Pakistan.
In a petition to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, NCP MLA Dr Jitendra Awhad and Prof. Hasan Shabbir Ahmed Mulani said that the decision has shocked and sadden the people of India and the world.
They pointed out that on one hand a press note by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 10, 2017 stated that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan on March 3, 2016 for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan — was tried by Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Section 3 of Official Secrets Act 1923, found guilty of all charges and awarded death sentence.
"And on other, right from the day of Jadhav's arrest India has been asking for Consular Access as we believe that Jadhav - a retired Indian Navy personnel, was "snatched" from Iran by Pakistani agencies in 2016. The Iranian government has also said that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was in that country, was not engaged in any illegal activity," it pointed out.
In a petition to UN, Imran Khan said that Jadhav's execution, without providing him proper legal aid, which is possible only by giving India the consular access to him, will not only violate his right to legal remedy but will also violate his basic right to life and leave India defamed in a best possible way.
Another petition by Jan Ki Baat said: "The Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav has undergone farcical proceedings in Pakistan, and the proceedings point to a premeditated murder. The sentence has been granted without observing the basic principles of law and justice. Every Indian believing in principles of natural justice, and believing in humanity should sign this petition to save Kulbhushan Jadhav."