SC gives last chance to Nehal Hashmi for reply in contempt case

ISLAMABAD: The special Supreme Court bench overseeing the implementation of the Panama case verdict on Friday gave Senator Nehal Hashmi a last chance to submit a reply in a case pertaining to his threatening speech, ARY News reported.

The three-member bench – headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan – was hearing suo moto notice against Hashmi over his threats to the judiciary.

Hashmi’s counsel Hashma Habib argued before the bench that he is yet to ascertain a transcript of his speech so he could deem his remarks leading to contempt proceedings initiated against him.

He contended that Hashmi did not mention any name of Panamagate JIT members and Judges in his speech. He further argued that his client has not been apprised of complaints received against him.

Following the arguments, Justice Ejaz ul Ahsan remarked that Hashmi’s speech is all over the internet and he could find it through Google [search engine]. He also outlined the delays caused by the respondent in last two hearings of the top court.

“For cause of justice, one more chance is being given to submit his reply within 10 days,” Justice Ejaz observed while directing the attorney general to handover the transcript to Hashmi, which delivered to him instantly.

Subsequently, Hashmi pleaded with the bench to nullify the criminal cases registered against him in Karachi, to which Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh of the bench replied that is not the court’s concern.

The bench adjourned the hearing till June 23.

Talking to the media persons outside the court, Habib said the AG has provided him with an incomplete transcript.

He reiterated that his client did not pass any contemptuous remarks and his speech was distorted by design to malign his name.

It is worth mentioning here that the top court had taken a suo motu notice after Hashmi’s — then the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Sindh secretary general — video surfaced on May 31 in which he threatened those investigating the prime minister.