SC disqualifies Nehal Hashmi, awards one-month imprisonment

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday sentenced Senator Nehal Hashmi to one-month imprisonment and Rs50,000 fine for hurling threats to those investigating the Panama case. The court also disqualified Hashmi from holding a public office for five years under Article 63 (1)(g) of the constitution. The three-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justices Dost Mohammad and Maqbool Baqar announced the 2-1 decision. A dissenting note was authored by Justice Dost. After the verdict, Nehal Hashmi was arrested and shifted to Adiyala Jail. Meanwhile, Nehal Hashmi has filed a petition against his conviction. The SC had rejected the unconditional apology and reserved the judgment on January 24. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa read out the verdict and gave a reference of the case regarding disqualification of former PM Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. After the threatening video, the PML-N has suspended the party membership of Nehal Hashmi and sought his resignation.