Nehal Hashmi’s case transferred to ATC

KARACHI: A sessions court on Friday transferred the defamatory speech case against Senator Nehal Hashmi to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) after terrorism charges were added to the FIR filed against the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader.

A district and sessions judge was hearing the case registered against Hashmi for using threatening language against the judiciary and public servants during a speech to party workers on May 28.

Police submitted a report before the court that said the provisions dealing with the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, had been included as Hashmi had committed a terrorist activity by using threatening language against the judiciary and public servants.

After reviewing the police challan, the judge ordered shifting of the case to an ATC. Earlier, a district and sessions judge (East) had granted bail to Hashmi on July 4 for 15 days against a surety bond of Rs50,000 after a case was registered against him with the Bahadurabad police station.