ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan announced that it would indict Senator Nehal Hashmi on July 10 for his threatening speech after he failed to appear before a three-member bench on Friday.

During today’s hearing, the bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan were expecting the legislator to appear in his personal capacity before them. However, Hashmi’s lawyer disclosed that his client had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

To this, Sheikh Azmat Saeed expressed severe displeasure and remarked that he should have informed the bench about his tour.

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Hashmi’s counsel pleaded the centre was meddling in the affairs of the provinces and his client was being victimised but the court that perceived Hashmi’s absence in bad taste dismissed the reply earlier submitted by the PML-N Sindh stalwart and remarked that it would now bring criminal charges against Hashmi on July 10.

Coincidentally, the six-member Joint Investigation Team currently probing offshore assets of Sharif family would also complete its proceedings the same day.

Nehal Hashmi’s Outrageous Speech

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Nehal Hashmi came under the spotlight in May 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.

“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 Revoked

Hashmi’s party membership was revoked on May 31 after the prime minister house took notice of his speech.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.