Mother of Indian spy asks to see son on death row

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI

The mother of an Indian man awaiting execution in Pakistan on espionage charges on Wednesday called for his release, local media said.

Avanti Jadhav, whose son Kulbhushan was arrested in Pakistan’s Balochistan province in March last year, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court via the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, broadcaster NDTV reported.

She also asked to see her son.

Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death earlier this month over allegations he was working for Indian intelligence.

India also reiterated demands for consular access to Jadhav. Fifteen previous requests were all denied.

“Pakistan was also requested to facilitate visas for the mother and father of Shri Jadhav,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“They wish to travel to Pakistan to meet him and also to personally file the petition and the appeal. They have applied for necessary visas with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.”

Jadhav was arrested in Mashkel, a town a few kilometers (miles) from the Iranian border. Pakistani officials have accused him of running a spy network for India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence agency from the Iranian port of Chabahar.