According to the sources, the final decision on whether Ex-Indian Naval officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav will face the death penalty or not, is expected to be taken in about six to seven months, by Pakistan.

The former Indian Naval officer was given death sentence by a Pakistani military court, on charges of espionage and sabotage. Pakistan is already facing the heat over the Dawn news leaks issue. In an unusual move, the Pakistan’s powerful army on Saturday, rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s decision, to sack his trusted aide, “Tariq Fatemi” for leaking information to the media. However, the Pakistan army referred the aide’s action as incomplete. An inquiry committee’s recommendation was approved by the Pakistani PM, to remove Fatemi, the special assistant on foreign affairs, from his post. Fatemi, was said to be found guilty of leaking information to the media about a rift between Pakistan’s civilian and military leaderships during a high-level security meeting. Amidst, all this rift, the judgment of Kulbhushan Jadhav, was to be taken.

India’s capital city, is hoping that the death sentence will be at least reduced to life imprisonment. A decision by Pakistan on the visa application of Jadhav’s parents is also expected soon, says sources.

Earlier, Pakistan PM’s advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz said, “The former Indian Naval officer has the following available options, as per the law. He has the right to appeal to an Appellate Court, within 40 days. He can even lodge a mercy petition to the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) within 60 days of the decision by the appellate court, or a mercy petition to the President of Pakistan, within 90 days after the COAS decision on the mercy petition.”

The Pakistan’s Army Chief General, Qamar Javed Bajwa, is expected to reject any mercy petition filed, since the Chief had already confirmed the death penalty judgment by the military court in the first place, according to foreign policy watchers.

There seems to be a little possibility of the Pakistan Army Chief granting mercy to Jadhav, with the Pakistani Army adopting a hard line stand on the matter and being in the forefront of the move to reject Jadhav’s consular access. Therefore, it seems quite obvious that ultimately the Pakistan President will have to take the final call on whether Jadhav will be hanged or not. The alternative is to curtail the sentence to life imprisonment. But going by the fact, it seems most likely that any decision by the Pakistan President will also be taken, after the Army there is on board.

SUPRAJA