Nehal Hashmi. Photo: File 

ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar resumed hearing the contempt of court case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nehal Hashmi today. 

As proceedings began, lawyers' leader Rasheed A Rizvi requested the court to briefly adjourned the hearing as several lawyers? leaders are present and will consult and inform the court of their opinion on how to proceed with the case. Supreme Court Bar Association President Pir Khurshid Kaleem was also present in court. On seeing him, the chief justice remarked, "you are the pir of your area and ours as well". 

The hearing was then adjourned until 1pm.  

At the last hearing of the case yesterday, the court had replayed a video clip of Hashmi's controversial remarks against the judiciary.

In response to Hashmi's plea for forgiveness, the chief justice had remarked, "how can you appeal for leniency," adding that if he [chief justice] was in Hashmi's place, he would have drowned in shame.

Contempt case: Nehal Hashmi asks Supreme Court for forgiveness

PML-N leader has already been punished by the apex court in a contempt of court case

The court then summoned bar representatives to give their input on how to proceed with the matter of cancelling Hashmi's licence to practice law. 

Hashmi, a former senator, was jailed for a month and disqualified for five years by the apex court on February 1 over his contemptuous remarks made last year. 

Later, the former senator landed in hot water again as the court took notice of his controversial media talk after his release from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. A visibly charged Hashmi had said he was made a victim of revenge for standing by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

After initially denying to have made the statements, the PML-N leader had said he was ashamed.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar had termed regrettable the remarks uttered by Hashmi for judges 

In May last year during the height of the Panama Papers case against Nawaz, Hashmi, in a speech in Karachi, had threatened the 'enemies of the prime minister'.