The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will pronounce its verdict on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case today, three days after it heard arguments presented by India and Pakistan.

According to government sources, the international court will give its verdict around 3.30 pm (Indian Standard Time).

During its submission, India had demanded the immediate suspension of Jadhav’s death sentence, expressing fears that Pakistan could execute him even before the hearing at the ICJ was over. The 46-year-old former Navy officer, was arrested on March 3 last year and sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities.

On May 8, the Jadhav case was taken to the ICJ by India, which accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention and conducting a “farcical trial” for convicting Jadhav without a “shred of evidence”.

On its part, Pakistan told the ICJ that Vienna Convention provisions on consular access were not intended for a “spy” involved in terror activities and charged India with using the world body as a stage for “political theatre” in the Jadhav case.

The two neighboring countries had a face-off last around 18 years ago, when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft.

The international court said in a release today, “A public sitting will take place at 12 noon (3:30 pm IST) at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Judge Ronny Abraham, President of the Court, will read the court's decision.”

The India team represented by its “Agent” Deepak Mittal, and lead attorney Harish Salve are expected to be present at the time of the verdict.

SUPRAJA