Islamabad March 7 (TNS): A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday issued another contempt of court notice against former senator Nehal Hashmi over his disparaging remarks he had made soon after he was released from Adiala Jail after he completed his one-month sentence handed down by the apex court in a contempt of court case.
When the apex court bench took up the suo moto case against Hashmi’s latest remarks against the judges, the former senator pleaded that he should not be served another notice and never thought of hurling contemptuous remarks against the judiciary or the judges.
After playing a video of his disparaging remarks against the judges in the courtroom, when the chief justice pressed him to explain why did he has used such contemptuous remarks, Hashmi said that it were not his words rather he was speaking on behalf of the people languishing in jails without being heard for years.
At the same time, the former senator claimed that he was ‘acting’ when he delivered a fiery speech soon after he was released from Adiala Jail. Upon that, the bench asked his if he was an actor. Hashmi also said that he was seized with some pressing mental issues and he should be pardoned. The chief justice replied if he was mentally upset, how come he delivers public speech.
When Hashmi pleaded not to be issued the contempt notice as he respected the judges and he was earning his livelihood through his profession as an advocate, the bench said that he was being issued the notice and on Monday a decision would be made how the proceedings should be carried forward. Hashmi’s counsel Kamran Murtaza, meanwhile, recused himself to pursue his case,
When Hashmi said that he was embarrassed and ashamed of his remarks, the chief justice said that they were also embarrassed by his wordings. The bench has also sought an opinion from law experts whether or not to initiate formal proceedings in the contempt case against Hashmi and adjourned the case till Monday.
Soon after he was released from the Adiala Jail, Hashmi delivered a blistering speech, while addressing his supporters outside the jail targeting the judges especially the chief justice by naming him with his epithet “Baba Rahmatey” and saying it was not his country but the country of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Hashmi had also said that it were his forefathers who sacrificed to achieve a separate country and they know how to protect it and the dignity of the people.
