Govt running campaign against bench, JIT: SC judge

‘Sicilian Mafia and terrorists’ hurl threats at judges, says Justice Sheikh

ISLAMABAD: Visibly upset over Nehal Hashmi’s speech ‘threatening the institutions with dire consequences’, the Supreme Court on Thursday observed that the government was running a ‘systematic campaign’ against judges and members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

The observation came after the top court initiated suo motu proceedings against the PML-N leader over a threatening speech in which he had hurled threats at members of the judiciary and the JIT investigating the offshore assets of the Sharif family. The speech has already cost Hashmi his seat in the Senate.

“Some of your members of the cabinet and spokespersons have adopted a systematic campaign against this court, judges, and JIT members,” Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who is a member of a three-judge special bench, said while addressing Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali.

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, another member of the bench, added that the “government is creating a mess. We have faced dictators. We were even detained in November 2007, but no one threatens our families and children.”



“Do you know who directs threats at judges?” the justice asked the attorney general. “Cowards issue threats,” the AGP replied.

Justice Sheikh then observed that the act of threatening a judge is more in line with the work of the Sicilian Mafia and terrorists. “Congratulations, your government has joined their ranks,” he added.

Meanwhile, the three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, decided to open a case against Hashmi and issued him a show-cause notice over his remarks. The bench asked him to submit a written reply by June 5.

The court also asked the AGP, who has been appointed as the prosecutor in the case, to collect all relevant material pertaining to the case. The AGP was also asked to examine whether criminal proceedings could be initiated against the PML-N leader under the PPC or other sections of the law.

Throughout the hearing, all three judges were seen visibly upset by Hashmi’s speech and did not hide their annoyance over the anti-judiciary rant.

At the onset of the hearing, Justice Khan, who was heading the special bench, asked the AGP, “Do you know what’s going on around you and how the JIT is being looked at?” adding, “We are ready to pay the price for maintaining the reputation of this institution. We are not scared of any consequences.”

Regarding the news report about a WhatsApp call made by the SC registrar to the SECP chairman, Justice Khan made it clear that it was the judges who had appointed the JIT as they asked the registrar to issue the directive for getting the names from the relevant departments.



“We are aware of what each specific person is capable of,” the judge said, adding, “We know who is competent and can deliver results."

 

“We see, we hear and we read as many things are being exaggerated,” Justice Khan added. “Though we are not angels, we are fair in our deeds, and we work in accordance with law.”

The judge also made it clear that stern actions would be taken against those who would ridicule the judiciary.

The AGP stated that he had already pointed out that all trials outside the court be ended and urged the court to stop the media from discussing sub judice matters.

Justice Khan observed that the person issuing threats to the bench was a senator holding a senior party position in Sindh, but yet, the government remained silent for two days and only took action when it realised that the court might take notice of Hashmi’s speech.

At one point, Hashmi tried to say something but the bench did not allow him, instead asking him to submit a written response. “Why you are in a hurry. You may present your point of view in writing,” Justice Khan asked the PML-N leader.

However, Hashmi implied that his statement was due to exhaustion as he ‘was fasting’ when he had uttered those words, adding that he could never dream of doing anything against judges.

To this, Justice Khan suggested that he ‘stop dreaming’.

The hearing was adjourned till Monday.