Top court gives Nehal final chance to file written reply

Also provides transcript of speech to contemnor to submit reply accordingly

ISLAMABAD: The top court has given last chance to Senator Nehal Hashmi to file a written reply till next Friday over a show-cause notice issued to him for delivering a threatening speech against the judges and the joint investigation team (JIT) members.

Counsel for contemnor Hashmat Habib requested the three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, to supply the transcript of Hashmi’s speech for submitting a written reply.

Hashmi’s counsel also alleged that the Supreme Court had ruined 30 years of his political and professional career. He was even expelled from his party (PML-N).



Upon this, Justice Ejaz wondered that on the first day of hearing, Hashmi wanted to file a reply, but the court had asked him to submit his point of view after thorough deliberations. On the second day, he requested time to engage a counsel. Today (Friday) he is appearing along with his counsel and requesting to supply a transcript to his counsel for filing a reply.

“It means you are just trying to play with the court,” Justice Ejaz said.

Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan also wondered that the transcript of his video was available to the whole world but not to him.



However, the bench gave last opportunity for filing the reply and adjourned the hearing till next Friday.

In Hashmi’s case, the bench outlined the delays caused by the respondent at the last two hearings, and observed that for the cause of justice one more chance was being given.

The attorney general handed over the transcript to Hashmi on the directives of the bench.



The bench also rejected his counsel’s request to stay criminal proceedings against him in Karachi.

Hashmi’s threatening speech at an event in Karachi on May 28 drew instant reaction from the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar taking suo motu notice, summoning him to appear on June 1 in person before the implementation bench supervising the work of the Panamgate JIT.

A notice was also issued to Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf who appeared before the bench on Friday.