Summary The court while adjourning the hearing has summoned reply from Nehal Hashmi in two weeks.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court on Monday declared the content of Senator Nehal Hashmi’s provocative speech submitted in court as ‘incomplete’.
During the hearing of the suo moto case against Senator Hashmi, Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Director General Haji Adam submitted CD recordings of Hashmi s speech to the court, along with a transcript of the speech and a list of all the TV channels that aired it the day it was delivered. The speech was shown in the court.
“The broadcast of various channels was checked for around one hour. We always take notice ourselves if the speech is against the code of conduct,” he explained to the court.
He remarked that nothing more is present in the CDs than the material already submitted in court by Hashmi. “Nehal Hashmi committed contempt of court prima facie. However; the record submitted in the court does not contain the part bearing provocative content," pronounced Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
Attorney General Ashtar Ausuf told the court that no channel aired the complete speech but rather different parts.
“We understand what is happening. Are you yourself a hostage or making the witness as one,” said Justice Azmat Saeed while expressing severe displeasure.
“If the TV channels have aired the speech more than the record submitted in court, then DG Pemra will go to jail instead of home whereas the Attorney General and witness will also have to face the consequences,” said the judge.
Ausuf clarified that he can never think of misleading the court and providing wrong information.
Hashmi’s lawyer Hashmat Habib laid blame of his client’s threatening language against the judiciary and public servants on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan. He argued that the entire incident happened because of Imran Khan.
“What does Khan has to do with this case? His matter is not with us,” said the judge.
Nehal Hashmi’s lawyer Hashmat Habib requested the court to provide time for submitting reply to the charge sheet and finding witness in the case. He asked to adjourn the hearing of the case till the fourth week of August.
“Shouldn’t we postpone the case until 2019?” Justice Ijazul Ahsan inquired in a criticizing tone. To this, the lawyer responded,"The witnesses have to brough from Karachi. Who will bear the expenses in this time of inflation?"
Hashmat Habib told that they have also filed a plea against TV channel. “You did nothing and the footage was made by the channels itself,” the judge sternly remarked.
The court while adjourning the hearing till August 21 has summoned reply from Nehal Hashmi in two weeks.
