–Court grills PEMRA director general over submission of incomplete transcript
ISLAMABAD
INP
In a surprising manner, Nehal Hashmi’s counsel Hashmat Habib, on Monday, blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for his client’s threatening language against the judiciary and public servants. He said that the entire incident happened because of Imran Khan.
During the hearing of the suo moto case against Senator Hashmi’s controversial speech, the lawyer argued that the entire incident happened because of Imran Khan.
Hashmi’s counsel asked the court on his client’s behalf for time to find a witness and submit a response to the charge sheet given to him in the contempt case pertaining to his speech.
Over this, Justice Ejaz Afzal asked if the case should be adjourned till 2030.
Hashmi’s counsel said they wanted to tell the court under what circumstances the speech was made.
Mentioning Imran Khan in the proceeding, Habib told the court the issue was caused by Imran Khan. When Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan asked what the PTI chief had to do with the case, Habib did not give a relevant response.
Hashmi’s counsel told the court the facts were twisted and then presented, while the registrar did not write anywhere that Hashmi threatened the judges. To this, Justice Ahsan said even if the registrar had not mentioned that but still the entire country knew what Hashmi said in his speech.
The Supreme Court asked PEMRA why it had not submitted the transcript of the controversial speech aired on TV channels.
Justice Azmat Saeed told Hashmi’s witness, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Director General Haji Adam, the material he had submitted was all irrelevant. The judge said the incomplete and unrelated material was given under a conspiracy.
To this PMERA DG said that he had submitted the transcripts and compact discs of speech ran on 26 channels. He added that whatever had been submitted to the court was given with honesty.
The director general presented the list of channels which aired Hashmi’s speech. “The broadcast of various channels was checked for around one hour. We always take notice ourselves if the speech is against the code of conduct,” he explained to the court.
The attorney general told the court that no channel aired the complete speech but rather different parts.
“If the TV channels have aired the speech more than the material submitted in court, then DG Pemra will be going to jail instead of home,” said the judge.
The court while adjourning the hearing till August 21 has summoned reply from Nehal Hashmi in two weeks.
