Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) has written a letter to Sindh Police for initiating proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) former senator Nehal Hashmi over his ‘contemptuous’ speech against judiciary and threatening remarks against joint investigation team (JIT) probing Sharif family’s business dealings abroad.

According to the letter, Ashtar Ausaf, who has been appointed as prosecutor in the case against Hashmi, views that the speech attracts action under sections 189, 228 and 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). “Since the speech was reportedly made in Karachi, therefore you are requested to look into the matter and may consider drawing up appropriate proceedings in this regard,” the letter stated, a copy of which was also sent to Sindh Advocate General (AG).

In pursuance of the top court’s order, the proceedings under Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 have already been launched and the AGP is prosecuting the matter. The AGP has tasked Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman and Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti to prosecute Hashmi in his absence. The AGP is scheduled to leave for Geneva to pursue the matter of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav pending before the International Court of Justice. Complying with the Supreme Court’s orders, the prosecution has already submitted a 10-page civil miscellaneous application (CMA) comprising material related to Nehal’s contemptuous speech in the top court. The CMA contains video clipping of Nehal Hashmi speech, speech transcript, translation by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and summary of the press clippings. However, Hashmi is yet to submit his written reply in the matter.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), while condemning the speech by the former PML-N leader, has demanded the government register a criminal case against Hashmi under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The PBC termed the speech as politically motivated and a calculated one.

PBC Vice-Chairman Ahsan Bhoon and Chairman Executive Committee Supreme Court Hafeez-ur-Rehman Chaudhry in a joint press statement said that a manipulated and managed move of the government aims at not only making the investigation into Panama case controversial but also threatens the judges, especially those who were on the bench hearing Panama case.

“The object is very clear: to pressurize the JIT and judges of the SC. The verbal attack of Nehal Hashmi on the apex court and its nominated JIT falls within the ambit of Section 6&7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act,” the press statement stated. Taking strong exception to a press statement issued by the government’s spokesman, they urged the top court to launch immediate legal and penal action against those on whose behest the said statement was issued. They said the statement was not only derogatory and contemptuous but also amounted to direct interference in functioning and independence of the judiciary.