- Former senator tells SC he was merely expressing sentiments of people
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday issued another contempt notice to former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator Nehal Hashmi over his most recent inflammatory speech that he made after completing his one-month sentence for contempt of court.
After his release from the Adiala Jail, Hashmi had declared himself “a victim of revenge” while complaining that his appeal against the verdict in the contempt of court case was not heard even after his sentence had ended.
“This is the height of oppression,” he had said. “Who are you holding accountable? And who are you anyway? I stand by what I said [earlier],” he had said.
On being asked if he was “ashamed” of the statement that had landed him in jail in the first place, Hashmi declared that only a “fraud, thief or a person who took undue advantage of power would be embarrassed”.
At the outset of proceedings, the PML-N leader appeared before the court in person after being summoned by a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice (CJP) of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar.
Although Hashmi’s lawyer Kamran Murtaza claimed his client was “ashamed” of what he said and asked for it to be omitted from the court’s written order, the chief justice refused the request and mulled over whether to enhance Hashmi’s sentence.
During the proceedings, a video of Hashmi’s post-prison-release media talk was played. In response, 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 the order to revoke your license as lawyer and member of the bar council,” Justice Nisar asked Hashmi.
To which, Hashmi replied that his children would die of hunger, particularly after his disqualification as senator.
Justice Nisar then remarked the one, for whose contentment he made anti-judiciary remarks, would take care of his children.
The court also issued notices to vice-chairmen of all the bar councils to submit their response to the court’s plan to cancel Hashmi’s licence to practice law.
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 to pursue his case.
On Tuesday, the court screened the speech while hearing the same appeal Hashmi had complained about. Hashmi’s lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, sought to apologise on behalf of his client after the speech was played for the court, but the court said that the matter would be taken up after Hashmi’s appearance.
Justice Azmat, in his remarks, observed that Hashmi seems to be toeing one line in the documents submitted to court, and another when he talks to media and makes speeches.
The chief justice remarked that Hashmi had again used objectionable language against judges after his release, to which Murtaza said Hashmi was “ashamed” of what he had said and asked that it not be quoted in the court’s written order. However, the chief justice refused the request.
“The court has taken a position on the matter, come what may. Hashmi’s punishment term could also be extended over his controversial remarks following his release from jail,” the CJP said.
This man is intelligent, articulate and knows what he is speaking about. He is insulting his own profession(after all judges are lawyers too). He wants to be regarded as a martyre like his LEADER. Hie tirade against the judges has put the latter between a rock and a hard surface. Call in the the doctor in his defence. He suffers from post traumatic syndrome.(PTS).Every body will be satisfied.
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