Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday accused the country’s erstwhile Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government of mishandling the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who, Islamabad alleges, is an Indian spy.

Talking to media after launching the construction of a park, the minister said Pakistan was implementing the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“We have taken steps to implement the directive of the International Court of Justice. India wants Pakistan to deny consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav so that it could have grounds to go to the ICJ.

“The opposition should not show ignorance by making statements in this regard. It should avoid strengthening the Indian point of view,” he said, according to a Dawn report.

He was referring to the ICJ (Review and Re-consideration) Bill, 2020, passed by the National Assembly recently. The law will allow fresh consular access to Jadhav under the ICJ ruling. The opposition parties have strongly protested against the legislation, calling it unnecessary”.

Qureshi said whoever was going through the process of accountability would be allowed to prove himself innocent.

He said Pakistan had no intention to handover any airbase to the United States while the CIA chief’s recent visit (to Pakistan) was part of a routine affair and there was nothing to hide.

(SAM)