Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Senator Nehal Hashmi on Friday once again refused to seek pardon from the Supreme Court over his controversial and threatening speech as he informed the top court that its registrar was ‘misguided’ by the hullabaloo created by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Hashmi, who was ousted from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of his contemptuous and threatening speech towards judiciary, Friday submitted another reply in the top court through his counsel Advocate Hashmat Habib.

In his reply, he stated that the note of the SC registrar, on which the notice was taken, and order of chief justice did not contain the actual speech because the speech was neither before the registrar at the time of drafting the note nor was it presented to the chief justice or the Panama case implementing bench.

The three-judge implementation bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, following the orders of chief justice, had examined the note in the chamber and ruled, “The statement holds out threats against judges of this court, their families, members of JIT and their families. Prima facie the statement constitutes interference with and obstruction of the process of this court.”

However, it has been perceived by the recent reply of Nehal Hashmi as if he has challenged the administrative procedure and due rules through which the show-cause notices are issued. “From the bare reading of registrar’s note, it appears that the note does not contain any allegation of threat against judges of Supreme Court, their families, member of JIT and their families. While apprehension of learned registrar is that Nehal Hashmi uttered threatening words for all those requiring Hussain Nawaz and other to account for their assets, these observation made by registrar on being influenced by the transcript of speech appended with note, although, prima facie, it does not attract any provision of Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 or Article 204 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973,” Nehal’s reply stated.

“No suo motu notice was taken by chief justice against the answering respondent who were just pleased to direct the registrar to place the note submitted by the registrar before the implementing bench which prima facie based on doctored portion of speech of the respondent delivered on May 28, 2017, on the day of Youm-e-Takbeer,” he further maintained.

Terming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his followers as fitnaa, Nehal Hashmi informed the Supreme Court that PTI was behind the conspiracy against him. He stated that Khan and his followers conspired for their political objectives and doctored his speech two days after the event wherein the speech was made. “It is crystal clear from the events that a portion was doctored out of the whole speech by Imran Khan’s people and as a FITNA used the TV channels to poison the mind of the people. This is a serious matter which should be dealt with accordingly and the probe may be made against Imran Khan and his party men,” the reply stated.

Nehal contended that the tone in which he made the speech was against Imran Khan and his colleagues. He prayed the top court to vacate its order, wherein it had decided to indict him for contempt of court.

The implementation bench will take up the matter for hearing on July 10.

Published in Daily Times, July 8^th , 2017.