Intervening in state affairs: Court sets date for Nehal Hashmi hearing

Petitioner seeks FIR against the former senator for threatening JIT members

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge has fixed the next date for arguments on a petition seeking a case against former senator Nehal Hashmi for allegedly intervening in state affairs. The senator was also accused of threatening members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Panamagate scandal.

In previous proceedings, the judge sought comments from the Islampura SHO who informed the court that the incident did not take place in his police jurisdiction.

According to case details, petitioner Ali Ijaz submitted that accused Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nehal Hashmi directly threatened judges who gave a dissenting note in the Panamagate verdict. He allegedly also threatened those judges who were members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Panama scandal.

“He (Hussain Nawaz) is the son of Nawaz Sharif and we are the workers of Nawaz Sharif. We will make it difficult for you and your children,” Nehal reportedly said in a speech at a public rally. “You are in service now. You are going to retire one day. Then, we will not leave you.”

He contended before the court that the bone of contention was that Hussain Nawaz was appearing before the JIT which was disturbing the PML-N leadership and its leaders. “The accused took the step of ruining the image of superior court judges on the behest of PM Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Aurangzeb, Danyal Aziz, Talal Chaudhary and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2017.