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Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Nehal Hashmi to face anti-terrorism court

On Friday, A sessions court reassigned the case against Senator Nehal Hashmi to an anti-terrorism court after charges of terrorism were added to the FIR filed against the senator.

A district and sessions judge in Karachi was hearing the case against PML-N Senator Hashmi when police issued a challan against the senator which states that charges of terrorism have been included in the on-going case.

After reviewing the challan, the judge issued the order to transfer the case.

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The senator had come under fire after he was seen in a video apparently warning individuals conducting a Supreme Court-sanctioned investigation that the “earth will be made intolerable” for them for grilling the premier’s family.

The former firebrand PML-N leader was booked last month for publically threatening civil and judicial officials with dire consequences for investigating the Sharif family during a speech to party workers in Bahadurabad.

Earlier on Friday, the senator had filed a request with the Supreme Court asking that the investigations against him be stopped immediately.

“The proceedings of the criminal case should be stopped,” the request states, adding that Attorney General Ashtar Ausuf cannot remain the prosecutor in the case.

Late last month, the SC had announced that it would frame charges against Hashmi on July 10.

The senator had come under fire after he was seen in a video apparently warning individuals conducting a Supreme Court-sanctioned investigation that the “earth will be made intolerable” for them for grilling the premier’s family.

His remarks were, prima facie, directed at the Supreme Court-appointed joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Sharif family’s business dealings abroad.

Hours after the senator’s incendiary remarks made national headlines, Hashmi’s membership of the PML-N was suspended and a show-cause notice was issued to him.

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The senator also tendered his resignation from his seat in the Senate; however, a few days later, he withdrew the resignation citing the “extraordinary circumstances” that compelled him to take the step.

The chief justice had taken suo motu notice of the video and summoned the senator to appear before the special bench overseeing the implementation of the Panama Papers verdict.

Subsequently, the senator also tendered his resignation from his seat in the Senate; however, a few days later, he withdrew the resignation citing the “extraordinary circumstances” that compelled him to take the step.