Will not spare you, top court rebukes Nehal Hashmi

SCBA president says Hashmi's conduct indefensible

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday grilled former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator Nehal Hashmi for abusing judges after his release from Adiyala Jail.

“How dare you abuse the apex court judges? We will not spare you,” said Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar.

The chief justice also asked Hashmi if he would use the same language for himself. Footage of Hashmi making uncharitable comments about the judiciary was also played three to four times in the courtroom. Hashmi again threw himself on the court’s mercy.

The bench asked Hashmi that as to who were hearing political cases, adding that if he was ashamed for abusing the judges.

The bench also sought the assistance of bar representatives and veteran lawyers over the matter. Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) of Pakistan president Rashid A Rizvi, who was in attendance, said Hashmi’s conduct was indefensible. Likewise, representative of the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) also refused to defend him.

The CJP then said the contempt notice against the former senator could be discharged on the bar’s request. The court also issued a notice to SCBA president Peer Kalim Khursheed to appear before the court on Tuesday (today).



The bench also noted that Hashmi spent his imprisonment in hospital. The hearing of case has been adjourned till today (Tuesday).

On March 12, the apex court had rejected a reply submitted by the disqualified senator in a second contempt of court case against him and decided to frame charges. Hashmi, disqualified and awarded a one-month imprisonment by the top court in January for incendiary remarks against the judiciary last year, was summoned again after a video of him containing profane language against the judiciary surfaced.

Contempt case

Another three judge bench, headed by Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, asked Additional Attorney General (AAG) Waqar Rana to provide a list of witnesses to Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz’s counsel for preparation.

The bench was hearing a contempt case against the PML-N leader.

The bench observed that the court did not want to prejudice the case, and that a list of witnesses should be provided to the defence counsel, Ali Raza, beforehand so that they may prepare for cross-examining the witnesses.

Waqar Rana submitted that two witnesses – namely reporter for Dunya TV Sajid Chaudhry and an official from the monitoring team of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Association (PEMRA), Adam Khan – were present in the courtroom.

On the instructions of the bench, Rana provided the list of the two witnesses along with documents to Raza. The bench will resume hearing on Friday wherein both witnesses will be crossed-examined.

Earlier this month, the top court framed charges against Daniyal Aziz in connection with the contempt of court case.

Justice Mushir read out the charge-sheet, wherein it was stated that the federal minister obstructed court proceedings, and brought the judiciary into hatred, and scandalised the court in connection with three statements he delivered last year against Justice Ijazul Ahsan.