ISLAMABAD: Former senator Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nehal Hashmi, was served a contempt of court notice by a Supreme Court bench on Thursday (today).
The judges also directed Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali to see if any criminal proceedings could be taken against Hashmi.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday had taken a suo motu notice of Hashmi’s outburst against the prime minister’s ‘enemies’.
The bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, gave Hashmi till Monday to file a response to the notice, and appointed the attorney general as the prosecutor.
Justice Ejaz stated that the bench had directed the Supreme Court registrar to nominate persons for the [Panama case] Joint Investigation Team.
The judges came down hard on Hashmi over his controversial remarks, saying only mafias and terrorists threaten children.
The judges asked the Attorney General (AG) whether he was aware of what was going on?
“It seems that the government’s self-proclaimed spokespersons let no opportunity for maligning the courts slip by,” Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked.
“It is not our custom to bring our children into our fights,” Justice Sheikh Azmat chimed in, referring to the senator’s threats. “Mr Attorney General, what kind of people involve children in their fights?” he asked.
“The cowardly kind,” replied AG Ashtar Ausaf.
“No, not cowards — it is terrorists and the mafia who do such things,” responded Justice Azmat.
“Congratulations Mr Attorney General: it seems that your government has joined the Sicilian Mafia,” he added.
In his explanation, Hashmi said “I was fasting and would never dream of referring to judges in such a way.” To this, the bench stated that he must submit his statement in writing on Monday.
Hashmi’s party membership was suspended as soon as the PM house came to know of this statement and he was directed to tender his resignation from the Senate, according to Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The party authorities also issued a show cause notice to the PML-N leader and instructed Hashmi to step down from the party position of general secretary of PML-N Sindh.
Hashmi forwarded his resignation later to the Senate secretary, stating that he’s resigning due to “inevitable reasons.”
The resignation will now be forwarded to the Senate chairman for approval.
The controversy started when a video emerged of Hashmi in which he was seen threatening the prime minister’s ‘political enemies’.
Nehal Hashmi, warning those who are conducting accountability of Sharif family, said in a public rally, “We will make this land (Pakistan) narrow for you and your children. You are now in service, but will retire one day. We will not leave you then.”
“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.
“We are the workers of Nawaz Sharif… We will make an example of those who hold us accountable,” Hashmi can be heard saying in a video which has gone viral on social media. “We will not spare those who have held us accountable and who are making us accountable,” he continued. The video was reportedly shot as Hashmi addressing a gathering on May 28.
Hashmi also threatened Imran Khan and said, “The nation will also make this land narrow for those who live in Bani Gala.”