Islamabad, Dec 8 (PTI) Pakistan on Friday said it will allow convicted Indian death row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet his wife and mother on December 25

Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April on charges of espionage and terrorism

The International Court of Justice in May had halted his execution on India's appeal

Jadhav has been allowed to meet his wife and mother on December 25, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said

During his weekly news briefing, the spokesman said a staff member from the Indian High Commission will also be present during the meeting

Earlier on November 10, Pakistan had agreed to allow his wife to meet him

India has been pressing Pakistan to grant a visa to Jadhav's mother, Avantika, on humanitarian grounds

External Affairs Minister Sushma Sawraj had recently discussed Jadhav's case with Pakistani High Commissioner to New Delhi Sohail Mahmood

Pakistan has repeatedly denied India consular access to Jadhav on the ground that it was not applicable in cases related to spies

Jadhav had filed an appeal with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to seek clemency, which is still pending

In October, the Pakistan Army had said it is close to a decision on the mercy petition of Jadhav

Pakistan claims its security forces arrested him from restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy

Jadhav's sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India

After India approached the International Court of Justice, a 10-member bench on May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case

The ICJ has asked Pakistan to submit its response or memorial by December 13 before the court could start further proceedings in the case.

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Mumbai (PTI): The nomination papers of 7,994 candidates filed across the 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra, where polling will take place on November 20, were found valid after scrutiny, election officials have said.

On the other hand, the nomination papers of 921 candidates were found invalid, the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said in a statement on Thursday.

The process of filing nominations by candidates began on October 22 and ended on October 29.

The papers submitted by contestants were scrutinised on October 30, while the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 4.

Polling for the 288-member state assembly will be held on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), are the main contenders for power though smaller parties and independents are also in the poll fray.