People from all walks of life today welcomed the stay on the execution of former Indian Naval officer and alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistan military court.
The stay order was issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
People in Varanasi burnt Pakistan's national flag and raised slogans against that country. Ecstatic cries of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram echoed across the country.
Some people distributed sweets and, burst crackers near Jadhav's Powai residence and others Jadhav's returns to India safely.
Earlier, Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ read out the much-awaited verdict and asserted that the Kulbhushan Jadhav's case was indeed debatable, and added that the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case.
The final verdict is expected in August.
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The only condition under which Jadhav now stands to face execution is if Pakistan does not comply with the ICJ's decision. India can then go to the United Nations Security Council, which may then decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgement.
The UN charter entails that 'each member of the United Nations undertakes to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice' and 'if any party to a case fails to perform the obligations, the other party may have recourse to the U.N. Security Council.'
A Pakistan military court had awarded the death sentence to former Indian naval officer Jadhav on April 10 for alleged "espionage and subversive activities."
However, India, after being denied consular access for 16th time, dragged Pakistan to the ICJ on May 8 for violating the Vienna Convention.
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