ISLAMABAD – The supreme court of Pakistan served contempt of court notice to Senator Nehal Hashmi on Thursday for his threatening speech that stumped the internet, a day earlier.
Hashmi, who in a speech issued threats to those conducting probe of Sharif family assets faced a hard time when the top court took a suo-moto notice of his speech and summoned him.
The senator who appeared before the three-member bench today (Thursday) was reprimanded for his comments that stirred controversy among the power corridors. The apex court sought Hashmi’s reply regarding the contempt of court notice by Monday besides appointing Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf as a prosecutor.
During today’s hearing, Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that the top judiciary knew what it was doing adding that the Joint Investigation Team currently investigating offshore assets of Sharif family was formulated by the supreme court.
‘No one can scare us’ remarked justice Ejaz Afzal.
Justice Aijaz Ul Ahsan expressed that the members of cabinets issued threats during the proceedings of the Panama case as well.
On the other hand, Justice Azmat Saeed went furious over Hashmi and inquired whether his [Nehal’s] government had joined mafias as only mafia members threatened children.
‘You are requesting us to back off, do you know how issues such threats’ inquired Justice Azmat Saeed and added that Sicilian Mafia of Italy issued such threats.
To this, the Attorney General replied that such warnings are issued by cowards however, justice Azmat Saeed negated him and replied : Mafias and terrorists issue such threats.
Justice Azmat Saeed observed that the judiciary faced a dictator back in November 2007 but even then no one frightened families of judges.
PML-N’s stalwart while clarifying his statement in court room claimed that he was fasting and he could not think of threatening any state institutions.
After the proceedings Nehal came out of the supreme court building and had a brief conversation with newsmen clarifying his outrageous statements.
He expressed that he opened up about a mindset in his speech adding that he solemnly affirmed that he did not threatened any institution.
‘I beg forgiveness from Allah Almighty and judiciary’ noted Nehal Hashmi and added that he made a sweeping statement.
‘I did not speak against members of JIT or judiciary’ added the senator.
Nehal Hashmi’s Outrageous Speech
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Nehal Hashmi came into the limelight on Wednesday when a video surfaced in which he can be seen threatening judiciary in a veiled reference.
The video that went viral on the internet shows a disgruntled Senator Nehal warning rivals and ‘some honourable officials associated with top institutions’ of dire consequences if they continued their concerns with the accountability of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“Whoever is asking for accountability will retire tomorrow and we will deal with them,” insinuated Hashmi in a veiled threat to the top judiciary currently probing the ruling Sharif family in the backdrop of Panama papers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2smsB8QVwA
“Those grilling… [be warned that] we will arrange the day of judgment for you.”
“You are making the life of the prime minister difficult. The Pakistani nation will make it difficult for you to live,” he added, without taking any names.
Party Membership Revoking
Hashmi’s party membership was revoked on Wednesday after the prime minister house took a notice of his speech.
“A show-cause notice has also been issued to the senator,” said Dr Asif Kirmani, the adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs.
“We have also demanded his (Hashmi’s) resignation from Senate,” State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said, in a statement.
Later, Hashmi tendered his resignation to Chairman Senate.
