ICJ asks Pakistan to suspend Jadhav’s execution until May 15

Late on Wednesday evening, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed that the President of ICJ, Ronny Abraham, on Tuesday addressed an urgent communication to Pakistan, pending the court hearing arguments from both India and Pakistan, to suspend the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav.

The short press release, released at 9:30 PM IST on Wednesday, reads:

"Acting in accordance with the powers conferred upon him by Article 74, paragraph 4, of the Rules of Court, Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, addressed yesterday an urgent communication to the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with a copy to the Government of the Republic of India, in the proceedings instituted by India against Pakistan, on 8 May 2017 (see Press Release No. 2017/16).

Article 74, paragraph 4, of the Rules of Court stipulates that “[p]ending the meeting of the Court, the President may call upon the parties to act in such a way as will enable any order the Court may make on the request for provisional measures to have its appropriate effects.”

The released can be accessed through the link below:

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/168/19426.pdf

An official at the ICJ confirmed that the court hadn’t ordered Pakistan to “stay the execution” of Jadhav, as of now. “The Court will hold public hearings in the case on May 15,” an official communication from ICJ’s Information Department said.