SC issues contempt of court notice to Nehal Hashmi

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has issued a contempt of court notice to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Nehal Hashmi for criticism on the members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) conducting accountability of the premier and his family.

A three-judge bench of the apex court head by Justice Ejaz Afzal issued a show-cause notice to Hashmi to explain why he shouldn’t be tried for committing contempt of court. The hearing was put off till June 05.

Justice Ejaz Afzal expressing immense displeasure told Hashmi that he is being giving an opportunity to make a clarification. He said that judges were being threatened by the government but this will not deter them and they were afraid of any consequence.

Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed said that such threats were only issued by terrorists and the mafia. “It is not our custom to bring our children into our fights,”  he told Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf that the government was now likened to a mafia.

Justice Ejaz Afzal told the Attorney General hat even dictators did not make such open threats against their children. He said that judges were not perfect but tried their best for the provision of justice in the country.

The AG said that the government has not threatened anyone over the matter. The court appointed the Attorney General as prosecutor in the case and ordered him to compile relevant evidence against Hashmi.

Nehal Hashmi apologised for this actions, which was rejected the apex court bench, and he was directed to submit a written explanation by June 5.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo moto notice of his speech and issued him a notice to appear today before the bench implementing the verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Hashmi’s threatening speech seemed to have landed him in trouble, costing his party membership and seat in the Senate, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed immense displeasure over his statement.

In a video that surfaced on Wednesday, the PML-N leader was seen warning opponents and those probing the Panama Papers allegations of dire consequences if they continued with the accountability of PM Sharif and his family.

His statement hit the headlines throughout the day and elicited strong criticism and disapproval from political quarters. Prime Minister’s adviser on Political Affairs Dr. Asif Kirmani said that a show cause notice has been issued to Hashmi and disciplinary action would be taken against him.

The premier was also reported to have disassociated himself from the threatening statement and sought an explanation from him.