Raja Zafar head body over Nehal Hashmi's onslaught

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has put together a dedicated committee on Tuesday to probe issue over objectionable speech delivered by former senator Nehal Hashmi on the occasion of Yaum-e-Takbeer on May 28.

Barrister Zafarullah, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Khawaja Zaheer and Dr Asif Kirmani are part of the team while Senator Raja Zafarul Haq is appointed convener. The committee is tasked to file its recommendations within five days to the Prime Minister and President Mamnoon Hussain.

SC directs Nehal Hashmi to submit reply by June 16.

Formation of the committee has come in around a week after Hashmi delivered an onslaught against Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing premier's family over corruption allegations and the judges of the apex court who ordered establishment of the JIT.

PM Nawaz had directed Hashmi to tender his resignation from senatorial seat last week in addition to revoking his membership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) had served a contempt of court notice to the then senator and the first hearing was conducted last week.

Sindh Police had lodged a case against FIR No. No122/2017 on the complaint of SHO of Bahadurabad Police Station on June 4 under Sections 505, 228 and 189 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Taking U-turn on his decision to quit senate seat after his verbal onslaught against the judiciary and Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) members, Nehal Hashmi, the beleaguered leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Tuesday requested Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani not to accept his resignation.

According to details, Hashmi has submitted a written application seeking withdrawal of his resignation.

His resignation from Senate came after a video of his emerged in which he was allegedly issuing threatening statements to judiciary and Panamagate JIT.

However, PML-N distanced itself from Nehal's outburst and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif summoned his resignation.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar while taking suo moto notice of the incident ordered to open a contempt of court case against Hashmi. A hearing of the case was held a day before after which Supreme Court has ordered Nehal Hashmi to submit reply till June 16.

Police also registered a case against the PML-N leader on Sunday over charges of using threatening language against the judiciary, public servants and disrupting judicial proceedings.

Separately, PML-N senators Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Pervaiz Rasheed and Chaudhry Tanveer also held a meeting with Senate Chairman and discussed the political situation of the country.

While talking to media, PML-N senator Mushahidullah Khan said that Nehal Hashmi should have stood by his decision. He asserted that parliamentary party supports the decision of leadership.

Meanwhile, after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Nehal Hashmi on Tuesday took U-turn on the decision of his resignation and requested Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani not to accept it, opposition parties gave their response over the matter as well.

Leader of opposition Khurshid Shah said he had pointed out on the very first day that the resignation was given just to calm down the situation, and it means nothing.

Pakistan People's Party Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said everything is being done on the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary Information Shafqat Mahmood remarked that Nehal Hashmi's request to not accept his resignation has exposed all the drama.

Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed talked to Dunya News and said all of this is being conspired according to the plan. He also claimed that JIT can take a big decision in its interrogation, and Nawaz Sharif might get disqualified.

The opposition members said Nehal Hashmi is just a side actor, and action against him was taken just to befool the media and the nation. - NNI