The Supreme Court has on Friday given Senator Nehal Hashmi more time to give a reply to a petition concerning his hostile comments against “those investigating” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.
Hashmi asked the court during today’s hearing to give him more time to submit a response to the petition. He also requested the court provide him with the copy of his own statement.
The court responded by ordering the attorney general to make the transcript available to Hashmi, and set June 23 as the day of the next hearing of the case.
In a video that surfaced on media in May, Hashmi was seen apparently threatening the personalities conducting a Supreme Court-sanctioned investigation that they will be “taken to task” for probing the premier’s family.
His remarks, which were indirectly towards the Supreme Court-appointed, joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Sharif family’s business dealings overseas.
Hours after the senator’s incendiary remarks made national headlines, Hashmi’s membership of the PML-N was suspended and a show-cause notice was issued to him.
Consequently, he also resigned from his seat in the Senate; however, a few days later Hashmi withdrew his resignation.
A five-member disciplinary committee, formed to explore the issue, in its report suggested the prime minister to take action against the senator.
Acting on the committee’s recommendation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued orders for the expulsion of Senator Nehal Hashmi from the PML-N.