Threatening speech: SC indicts Nehal Hashmi in contempt case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday indicted former Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) loyalist Nehal Hashmi in contempt of court case for making an incendiary speech against the judiciary and Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing money laundering allegations against the Sharif family.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, took up the suo moto case against Hashmi today.

During the court proceeding, the bench refused Hashmi’s plea, seeking time and a chance for an explanation on the matter. His counsel pleaded with the bench to provide time for an explanation.

The bench remarked that he has already submitted his reply in the case while inquiring what more arguments he has to make pertaining to his diatribe.

Justice Sheikh Azmat queried Hashmi of warnings  made against whom while quoting part of his speech that those probing the Panama Papers allegations would face dire consequences if they continued with the accountability of PM Nawaz Sharif and his family.

Hashmi’s counsel told the bench that it was stated for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.

Rejecting Hashmi’s plea, the bench ruled the former PML-N loyalist is not being sent to jail rather charges are being indicted against him.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till July 24.

A video had emerged on social media featuring the PML-N senator addressing a gathering in which he warned opponents and those probing the Panama Papers allegations of dire consequences if they continued with the accountability of PM Nawaz Sharif and his family.

Earlier, 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.

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.

Subsequently, the PML-N disassociated itself from the diatribe and later expelled him from the party.