Nehal Hashmi expelled from PML-N over party's ethics body's recommendations

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expelled Senator Nehal Hashmi from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, approving the recommendations sent to him by the National Ethics and Discipline Committee.

This was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, convener of the committee.

In his report sent to the prime minister, Raja Zafar stated that Hashmi violated the discipline and policy of the party by making incendiary statements against the judiciary. Therefore, as per the report, the committee members unanimously recommended Hashmi's expulsion.

Five days ago, the prime minister had constituted the party's National Ethics and Discipline Committee to investigate the case of Hashmi. The move was made under section 147 of the party's constitution, that directs the formation of such a committee on a provincial and national level.

Hashmi came under fire after a controversial video was released in which he was seen allegedly hurling threats to the judiciary for probing the Sharif family regarding the Panama leaks. In the video, Hashmi said those carrying out the probe would be taken to task, referring to the Supreme Court and the joint investigation team, allegedly.

However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf believed Hashmi's speech was contrived as part of a plan to impede the investigation being carried out over the Panama Papers case.