Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday directed the Punjab inspector general (Prisons) to present a report in the Supreme Court within three days on whereabouts and medical condition of Nehal Hashmi.

The CJP said the report should verify the position of Nehal Hashmi while in custody, and to clarify whether he is currently in prison, or admitted, shifted to a hospital.

On Feb 1, the Supreme Court had disqualified Nehal Hashmi from holding any public office for five years under Article 63 (1)(g) of the constitution, besides awarding him one-month imprisonment along with Rs 50,000 fine for committing contempt of court.

According to court order, he had been convicted for the offence under section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 (Ordinance No. V of 2003) read with Article 204 (2) of the 1973 Constitution.

He was sentenced under section 5(1) of the said ordinance to simple imprisonment for one month and a fine of Rs 50,000. In case of default of payment, he has to undergo simple imprisonment for further 15 days.

The verdict had stated that the former senator attacked the judiciary, judges and those who were tasked by the apex court to investigate allegations of criminal conduct on the part of Hashmi’s political leader, Nawaz Sharif and his family.

“Through the relevant speech made by him on May 28, 2017, the respondent had established that he was a firebrand speaker and the tone, the pitch and the delivery of the offending words bear an ample testimony to that but unfortunately on that day he had spewed fire towards a wrong direction,” the verdict had added.

Published in Daily Times, February 16^th 2018.