ISLAMABAD: Taking a U-turn on his decision to resign from the Senate, Nehal Hashmi on Tuesday requested Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani not to accept his resignation.
The party leadership told Hashmi to resign for spitting venom against the judiciary and Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in a speech.
Hashmi has submitted a written application seeking withdrawal of his resignation.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice of the incident and 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 on Sunday over threatening 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 the Senate chairman and discussed the political situation of the country.
Talking to media, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that Hashmi should have stood by his decision. He asserted that parliamentary party supports the decision of leadership.
Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah said he had pointed out that the resignation was given just to calm down the situation.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary Information Shafqat Mahmood remarked that Hashmi’s request to not accept his resignation has exposed all the drama.
Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed said all 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.
Other opposition members said Nehal Hashmi is just a side actor, and action against him was taken just to befool the media and the nation.
PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said Hashmi was Nawaz Sharif’s mouthpiece. Talking to newsmen, he said it looks that the government is not going to accept the decision of Joint Investigation Team and Supreme Court in Panama Papers case. He said Nihal Hashmi has the support of prime minister and without the premier’s support such step was not possible. Aitzaz said PML-N is behind leaking the photo of Hussain Nawaz during his appearance before the JIT. The PPP leader said all the attempts by ruling party are meant to influence JIT probing Panama Papers case. No one other than Nawaz Sharif has the capability to obtain Hussain Nawaz picture therefore, it has proved that Nawaz Sharif is behind picture leak and Nehal Hashmi.
