Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) lawmaker Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday criticised the government over its 'handling' of Kulbhushan Jadhav's hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and urged the federal government to divulge details of the matter before the parliament so that it could be brought under discussion.

Asserting that matters regarding national security and foreign affairs should not be decided behind closed doors, Mahmood said, "It was important to ask how a 'clear' decision against a self-confessed spy and 'terrorist' was made controversial."

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The ICJ on Monday heard the case brought to it by India pertaining to the sentencing of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was handed a death sentence by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial (FGCM) last month.

Implying that the government had 'deliberately' softened its stance on Jadhav, Mahmood said experts were drawing links between Pakistan's handling of Jadhav's case with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal's visit to Pakistan last month where he met with the prime minister in Murree.

"Nobody should be allowed to trade personal interests with national interests," he maintained.

Mahmood urged the prime minister to disclose information regarding Jadhav's hearing at the ICJ before the parliament.

The PTI lawmaker said the whole process of Jadhav's hearing at the ICJ was riddled with complications and doubts. "It was surprising that Pakistan's Attorney General had not been involved in Pakistan's legal efforts at the ICJ," he said.

Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. He was subsequently sentenced to death by the FGCM in April this year.

India had termed the death sentence awarded to Jadhav “an act of premeditated murder.”

India then moved the matter to the ICJ, hoping to get the court to rule the FGCM's decision "illegal" and to get a stay order on the execution.

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Presenting its arguments before the court, Pakistan maintained that the ICJ did not have jurisdiction to hear the Indian application, Radio Pakistan, the state-run broadcasting service, reported.

Lawyer Khawar Qureshi, appearing for Pakistan, subsequently argued that the ICJ is not a criminal court and cannot decide such type of cases relating to national security.

The ICJ has heard arguments from both sides and is expected to revert back to the concerned parties in due time.