By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday awarded one month imprisonment to a member of upper house of the parliament , Nehal Hashmi for contempt of court. He will have to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 too.
The three-member bench , headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justices Dost Mohammad and Maqbool Baqar gave the decision in a 2-1 order with Justice Dost abstaining.
The court also ruled that Hashmi stands disqualified from holding public office for a period of five years according to Article 63(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Hashmi was taken into custody by police officials present in court following the order. He was shifted to Adiala Jail, in twin town Rawalpindi.
According to legal experts, Hashmi retains the right to appeal the decision.
During the height of the Panama Papers saga, Hashmi, in a speech to workers in Karachi on May 28 last year, had threatened the prime minister’s unidentified ‘enemies’.
Taking notice of the issue the next day, the Supreme Court had served him a contempt notice for his controversial remarks, reportedly aimed at the apex court and Panama Papers case Joint Investigation Team.
On January 24, Hashmi had left himself at the mercy of the apex court after submitting an unconditional apology in the contempt case. Hashmi’s counsel Kamran Murtaza submitted his apology in court.
As the hearing went under way on Jan 24, the Supreme Court objected to Hashmi’s apology, in which he stated that he respects the court and is ready to sacrifice his life for it.
Justice Khosa remarked that “you were going to make our life miserable on earth [as per your speech]”, adding that “whatever you say to us is fine but you mentioned our children as well”.
In July last year, Hashmi was charged for contempt of court following his controversial remarks.
Hashmi, in a speech to workers in Karachi at a Youm-e-Takbeer event which surfaced on May 31, had threatened the prime minister’s unidentified ‘enemies’.
