Supreme Court summons Nehal Hashmi over fresh anti-judiciary rant

ISLAMABAD: Taking exception to disqualified Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) senator Nehal Hashmi’s recent rant against the judiciary, the Supreme Court on Tuesday summoned him to explain his position.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, directed Hashmi, who was recently released from prison after serving his jail term, to appear at 1:00 pm on Wednesday.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by the PML-N leader seeking review of its previous order, disqualifying him as member of the upper house of Parliament and sentencing him to one month of jail term in a contempt of court case.

On Feb 28, the PML-N leader following his release from Adiala prison after completing one-month jail term lashed out at the apex court judges.

During the hearing today, a video showing Hashmi railing against the apex court judges after his release was played in the courtroom.

After viewing his speech, the chief justice asked his counsel as to why his client should not be issued a contempt of court notice again over his remarks against the judiciary.

Why his punishment should not be enhanced and a case be registered against him, he questioned.

Kamran Murtaza, who represented Hashmi, tendered apology over his clients’ contemptuous remarks.

The bench directed Hashmi to appear before it in person at 1 pm to explain his position. CJP Nisar noted that he used objectionable language about judges after his release.

Earlier, the court had found the PML-N leader guilty of committing contempt of court by threatening the Supreme Court judges.

The video of threatening speech at an event in Karachi went viral on social media and eventually drew instant reaction from the Supreme Court on May 28, 2017 after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of the incident and summoned the former PML-N Karachi chapter leader to appear before the court.

In the video, Hashmi was seen warning opponents and officials of state institutions’ of dire consequences over conducting an investigation in line with the Supreme Court’s Panamagate verdict.

“…Currently you are on service, but tomorrow you will retire and we will make your life miserable,” Hashmi was heard in a video addressing workers at a party event.