MULTAN: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi lashed out at Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Monday for ‘playing politician’. Speaking to a press conference, Hashmi said that the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has ‘manipulated the constitution’. He added that Justice Nisar is ‘playing politician’ by terming prominent political personalities of the country as ‘thieves, dacoits and mafia’. “They (PTI) call politicians thieves, dacoits and mafia during their rallies, while CJP utters such remarks in courts,” said Hashmi. The former PTI leader also said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted by the SC on basis of Iqama and that no valid reason was cited for his disqualification. He added that “it is fine if you have ousted Nawaz, but at least do not use derogatory remarks against him.” Taking further jibes at the judges, Hashmi said that in his final speech in the parliament, he had urged the judges not to ‘manipulate’ the constitution. “I told them in my final speech in the parliament not to manipulate the constitution. I say it again. They can sentence me to life in prison for contempt of court,” the former PTI leader said. Commenting on the country’s politician situation, Hashmi said that Pakistan is going through a problematic phase and that unity of government, politicians and institutions is vital to steer the country out of crisis.