Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that it is naïve of India to assume that its spy Kulbhushan Jadhav would be acquitted, released and returned and termed the stance of the neighbouring country in the ongoing hearing at the International Court of Justice as “childish requests”.
Speaking to media outside the Parliament House, the information minister said, "These are nothing but childish requests. And, like Khawar Qureshi [Pakistan’s counsel] said yesterday: India is standing feebly on a flimsy wall of lies".
The information minister observed that answers to several questions raised by Pakistan during the hearing were not submitted by India to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The first of these was a clarification sought over the retirement of Jadhav.
"When did Kulbhushan Jadhav actually retire? If he retired at the age of 47, then you must show us a record of the same and explain why he retired before the usual age of retirement," asked Chaudhry.
The second question related to the spy's passport, found by British investigators to be authentic.
"British investigators have confirmed that the passport in his possession is authentic. So the second question posed by Islamabad's counsel was that why was Jadhav found to have an authentic Indian passport when he was arrested? Of course, an authentic Indian passport could not have been provided by us; he must have had it made from India," he said
Chaudhry questioned India’s allegation on Pakistan about Jadhav’s kidnapping from Iran.
"India claims that Jadhav was abducted from the Iranian port city of Chabahar and brought to Pakistan. It is a nine-hour journey from Chabahar to Quetta. Our question is, if he travelled that distance, did you propose an investigation to Iran? Did you ask them if he disappeared from there, and how did it happen?" he inquired.
"We believe the brilliant manner in which Pakistan has presented its arguments in the ICJ, based on those arguments, a decision will be taken on merit," Chaudhry remarked, adding that "Pakistan's case is very strong."
The federal minister asked the Indian premier to contest elections on the basis of his performance instead of speaking anti-Pakistan rhetoric.
"We believe that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going into the election after five years and so he should run for elections based on his performance instead of taking up the policy of an anti-Pakistan stance, which we consider completely childish," he said.
"You have been in power for five years. You should highlight what you did for the people of India and how well you have delivered on the promises made to the people," Chaudhry remarked.
Warning India of any misadventure, the information minister said, "And if there is aggression, then of course our army is fully capable of responding and it has set an example in its continued fight against terrorism and in its bravery, which the whole world acknowledges," he declared.
Commenting on the arrest of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, Chaudhry said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not take government into confidence before detaining anyone.
"Whatever action NAB has taken today, it has taken independently. It does not consult with the government in any way. Our own senior minister from Punjab was arrested and today they have arrested the Sindh Assembly speaker."
He added, "This is why during all of NAB's operations, even if they are against our own people, we have always supported the rule of law."
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