Nehal Hashmi expelled from PML-N

PM orders senator’s expulsion from party in line with disciplinary committee’s recommendation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday issued orders to expel Senator Nehal Hashmi from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the latter's diatribe against the judiciary.

Hashmi’s basic party membership was revoked in line with recommendations of a five-member inquiry panel set up by the prime minister to probe the allegations against the lawmaker for issuing incendiary remarks against the country’s judiciary last month.

In his capacity as president of PML-N, Nawaz had set up national ethics and discipline committee of the party to launch an inquiry against Hashmi on June 6 after the Senator withdrew his resignation from membership of the Upper House of Parliament while appearing before Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani.



Hashmi had earlier tendered his resignation on May 31 after his video targeting and threatening “those investigating Nawaz Sharif’s sons” went viral, in an obvious reference to the higher judiciary and the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), probing Panamagate case.

The prime minister had subsequently sought Hashmi’s resignation from Senate after this episode. The National Ethics and Discipline Committee, led by PML-N chairman and Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, comprised barrister Zafarullah Khan, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Khawaja Zaheer Ahmad and Dr Asif Kirmani.

Haq also confirmed Hashmi’s removal to the media. “He has been expelled from the party by the PM for violating party discipline which attracted the launch of disciplinary proceedings,” he said.