Nehal Hashmi gets last chance to file reply in contempt case
June 16, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The special Supreme Court bench overseeing the implementation of the Panama case verdict on Friday gave Senator Nehal Hashmi a final chance to submit his reply in the contempt proceedings against him.
The three-member bench — headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan — had initiated contempt proceedings against him over his 'threats' to the judiciary.
At the start of the hearing, Hashmi's counsel Hashmat Habib said he is yet to obtain a transcript of his speech so he could know what remarks of his led to contempt proceedings being initiated against him.
To this, Justice Ejazul Ahsan replied that he can just Google the speech as it is all over the internet.
However, Hashmi's counsel said he still does not have a copy of the speech and can only submit a reply once he does. He contended that his client did not commit contempt as his speech does not mention the JIT and Supreme Court.
In his order, Justice Ejaz outlined the delays caused by the respondent at the last two hearings, and observed that for the cause of justice one more chance is being given. He then directed the attorney general to handover the transcript to Hashmi, which he did instantly.
Later, Hashmi pleaded with the bench to quash the criminal cases registered against him in Karachi, to which Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh replied that is not the court's concern.
Talking to the media outside the court, Habib said the AG has provided him with an incomplete transcript.
He reiterated that his client did not make contemptuous remarks and his speech was shown out of context in the media.
The court had taken a suo motu notice after Hashmi — then the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sindh secretary general — hurled threats against ‘those investigating the prime minister’ in a video surfaced on May 31.
At the last hearing on June 5, the bench had given Hashmi till today to file his reply as he had pleaded for time citing lack of a legal representative and possession of his speech’s transcript.
After that hearing, speaking to the media outside the apex court, Hashmi thanked the Supreme Court for listening to his plea.
Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said they [PTI] distorted my speech. “This is a criminal act as per the relevant laws,” he said, adding that [PTI Chairman] Imran Khan is the one who has committed contempt. He further claimed that his reply to the court will prove this.
Hashmi’s party membership was suspended by the prime minister as soon as his speech made the airwaves while a few days later a criminal case was registered against him in Karachi on directions of the attorney general.
Hashmi also resigned from the Senate on orders of the party leadership but later took back his resignation, against party wishes.
