News Analysis |
The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) decided to drop the contempt charges against the beleaguered Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nehal Hashmi on the recommendations of bar council. He offered unconditional apology to chief Justice Saqib Nisar as the apex courts resumed contempt of court proceedings against PML-N leader today.
The leaders and representatives of Bar had asked court to show mercy and kindness towards Hashmi. Court had directed Hashmi to render an apology. In its response, Hashmi accepted what bar member had to say and said, “I will not say anything [derogatory] against the CJP anywhere again”.
Court proceedings were adjourned at the behest of lawyers’ leader Rasheed A Rizvi who requested the court to help him consult with several lawyers’ leaders which are present to build a consensus on the proceedings of the court. The apex court again played a video clip of Hashmi’s insulting remarks after leaving the Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
Court’s soft stance against House of Sharif and Hashmi encouraged the other PML-N leaders to continue its tirade against the judiciary, expecting no serious charges. Nawaz has been successful in his strategy and held massive rallies across Pakistan, and demonstrating street power, convincing people of their victimhood.
At the last hearing, CJP remarked, we are considering cancellation of Hasm’s license, and if he ever used such abusive language and insulting remarks again, he will not be spared at all. Moreover, to pursue the cancellation of Hashmi’s license, Supreme Court (SC) summoned the bar representatives to give their input regarding initiation of the process.
In yesterday’s proceedings, Hashmi asked for forgiveness over his recent inflammatory remarks against the apex court. PML-N leader was grilled by the CJP over use of abusive language against the top judges.
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Seeking forgiveness for his ‘cuss words’, Hashmi rebutted that he can recite the kalima Pak and profess that never addressed the judiciary in such words. The top judge also showed surprise that a practicing lawyer at Bar could use such a derogatory language.
He also accused Hashmi of showing no remorse and lying in the court and not confessing to have hurled abuses at judges. On Hashmi’s plea to show leniency, CJP replied that how can you ask for forgiveness, if you had any shame, you would drown in it.
Though, Hashmi confessed shame and disgust over his controversial statements and argued that he leaves himself at the mercy of the court to which CJP asked, do you deserve any kind of mercy. To which, Hashmi replied, I confess my shame.
CJP had stressed in his judgment, dismissing the contempt of court against Nawaz that he has the record of Nawaz’s contemptuous speeches against judiciary, which will be taken up at appropriate time.
Hashmi’s Repetitive Insulting Rhetoric
On May 28, when Panama case against Nawaz was underway. Hashmi apparently in a predesignedincendiary speech in a private gathering, threatening top judiciary of dire consequences of their actions [against Nawaz] and called them the enemies of the PM.
Following his insulting speech, on May 31, the CJP took a suo moto notice of the issue and summoned Hashmi. PML-N attempted to cool down the issues and expelled Hashmi from their party on June 12, 2017.
SC rejected his unconditional apology on January 24 and on February 1, a three-member bench of SC headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa sentenced Senator Nehal Hashmi for a month and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on him after his verbal tirade and blatant threats where he targeted judiciary, defamed and ridiculed the apex court. On February 28, Hashmi started another tirade against judiciary after his release from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. On March 7 SC again issued a fresh contempt of court notice to Hashmi.
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Daniyal Aziz & Talal Chaudry’s anti-judiciary Campaign
Court also opened contempt proceedings against PML-N leader and Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz over his allegedly contemptuous statements on different television talk shows and indicted him.
Moreover, Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) decided to indict State Interior Minister Talal Chaudry in a contempt of court case on March 14, over of contemptuous statements against the judiciary in a public gathering in Jarranwala in January.
Father-Daughter duo anti-judiciary Campaign goes Unpunished
After disqualification, Nawaz kick-started his anti-judiciary campaign and in his post disqualification strategy he along with his loyalists publically bashed Supreme Court’s July 28, 2017, decision to disqualify him and opted for confrontational approach and pitted the institution against each other after building a momentum during his visit across the country to apparently play victim card over his ousting.
Seeking forgiveness for his ‘cuss words’, Hashmi rebutted that he can recite the kalima Pak and profess that never addressed the judiciary in such words. The top judge also showed surprise that a practicing lawyer at Bar could use such a derogatory language.
Meanwhile, despite expelling Hashmi from the part, PML-N leadership continued its attack on the judiciary. It ran apparently a thought out campaign against the apex court. And along with Maryam he slammed the judiciary and reminded them again and again that it was the PCO judges and doctrines of necessity which damaged the democracy and caused irreparable damage to the country’s prospects.
Read more: Supreme Court bans Shahid Masood for three months
Calls for contempt proceedings against Father-daughter duo grew over time for using the same language against apex courts. But, SC dismissed contempt of court petition against former PM and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif. SC said, Nawaz used the inappropriate words against Joint Investigation Team (JIT), not the SC.
Did Court’s Soft Punishment to Hashmi Encourage anti-judiciary Rhetoric?
It appears that house of Nawaz along with its aides is working on agenda to malign the court and gather popular support against judiciary using victim card. Though, CJP had stressed in his judgment, dismissing the contempt of court against Nawaz that he has the record of Nawaz’s contemptuous speeches against judiciary, which will be taken up at appropriate time.
Court’s soft stance against House of Sharif and Hashmi encouraged the other PML-N leaders to continue its tirade against the judiciary, expecting no serious charges.
Nawaz has been successful in his strategy and held massive rallies across Pakistan, and demonstrating street power, convincing people of their victimhood. It appears as Nawaz is hoping to draw attention through a contempt of court charge, to divert attention from more accountability court cases expecting an unfavorable decision.