Top court serves fresh contempt notice to Nehal

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday issued a fresh contempt of court notice to former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator Nehal Hashmi over his recent rant against the judiciary right after getting released from the prison.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice (CJP) of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing a plea filed by Hashmi to seek review of the apex court’s disqualification order removing him as the member of Senate after awarding him one-month jail term in the contempt of court case.

At the outset of proceedings, the PML-N leader appeared before the court in person.

Hashmi’s recently made inflammatory speech right after getting released from Adiala Jail was screened at the courtroom.

The former senator retracted his anti-judiciary remarks and insisted that he was acting upon the emotions of people.

Hashmi claimed that he was “acting”, to which Justice Umar Ata Bandiyal asked, “if the lawyer and politician was an actor”.

“I was merely expressing the sentiments of people,” Hashmi told the bench.

At which, the courtroom erupted into gales of laughter.

Why should not the court give order to revoke your license as lawyer and member of the bar council, Justice Nisar inquired Hashmi.

To which, Hashmi replied that his children would die of hunger, particularly after his disqualification as the senator.

Justice Nisar then remarked that the one, for whose contentment he made anti-judiciary remarks, would take care of his children.

The bench then ordered him to submit his reply by next hearing on March 12.

As the hearing was adjourned, Hashmi’s lawyer Kamran Murtaza also excused pursuing his case.