Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be a deepening rift between PML-N and the judiciary, the government on Thursday expressed ‘deep sorrow and regret’ over remarks by a Supreme Court judge painting the government as ‘Sicilian Mafia’.

The government, while expressing immense sorrow over the remarks, termed it ‘against judicial traditions and code of ethics of the apex court’.

In a statement, federal government spokesman said “the honourable judge, without having complete knowledge of the matter, not only levelled baseless allegations against the government but also termed action taken by the prime minister a reaction to the contempt of court notice issued to Hashmi by the Supreme Court.”

“It is very unfortunate that during the hearing on Thursday, an honourable judge called the government Sicilian Mafia and the Attorney General of Pakistan its representative. The remarks have struck a blow to the image of Pakistan and tarnished its reputation in the world. Such baseless allegations are in violation of the judges’ own oath and code of conduct,” the statement read.

The spokesman said that the facts are not only against this but the entire record of print and electronic media shows that the government expressed its extreme displeasure as soon as remarks by Hashmi came to the fore. The government also clarified that the remarks by the PML-N senator reflected his personal views and not that of the party or the federal government, he added.

The spokesman said that the minister of state for information had also termed Hashmi’s statement as his personal view and not of the government or the PML-N. The spokesman said that Nehal Hashmi was summoned to the PM House and disciplinary action was taken against him. On Wednesday, a video of Nehal Hashmi emerged in which he was seen threatening the ones ‘investigating the prime minister’s son’. The video drew an outpour of anger from various corners, prompting the PM to suspend basic party membership of Hashmi, followed by his resignation from the Senate.

The controversy also moved the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of Hashmi’s outburst.

During hearing of the contempt of court case against Nehal Hashmi, Justice Sheikh Azmat remarked, “It is not our custom to bring our children into our fights. Mr attorney general, what kind of people involve children in their fights?”

“The cowardly kind,” offered AG Ashtar Ausaf. “No, not cowards — it is terrorists and the mafia who do such things,” responded Justice Azmat.

“Congratulations Mr Attorney General: it seems that your government has joined the Sicilian Mafia,” he said wryly. Even dictators had never threatened judges’ families and kids like Nehal Hashmi did, he added.