ISLAMABAD: A few days before his third appearance in a contempt case before the Supreme Court, Senator Nehal Hashmi has been formally expelled from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the recommendations of a party panel.

PML-N central information secretary Mushahidullah Khan told Dawn on Monday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in his capacity as president of the PML-N, had finally expelled Hashmi from the party on a recommendation of the ethics and disciplinary committee headed by Senator Raja Zafarul Haq.

Mr Hashmi will, however, continue to be a member of the Senate as under the Constitution, the party head does not have the power to remove a lawmaker unless they voluntarily agree to resign.

A video that surfaced on May 31 showed Mr Hashmi declaring that `those` who were grilling the sons of Mr Sharif `will not be spared`.

Without naming anyone, he says: `We will arrange the day of judgement for you.` Mr Hashmi goes on to say: `Those who are holding them (the PM and his family) accountable or those who have made them accountable, listen carefully, we will not spare you. Today you are in service. Tomorrow you will retire.

We will make the life of your children and family miserable in Pakistan.

Without naming Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, Mr Hashmi said the Banigala residence was constructed with money from Jews whereas Mr Sharif`s house in Model Town had built with hard-earned money.

After the video went viral, the PML-N leadership asked Mr Hashmi to resign from his seat as senator. The Prime Minister`s Ofhce issued a brief handout stating that Mr Hashmi had been summoned by Mr Sharif to the PM House for an explanation. It said that Dr Asif Kirmani, political secretary to the prime minister, had told Mr Hashmi that the prime minister was extremely angry over the remarks he had passed. Mr Hashmi was issued a `show-cause notice` and was told about the party leadership`s decision to suspend his basic party membership.

Mr Hashmi complied with the party leadership`s orders and submitted his resignation at the Senate secretariat the same day before the apex court took suo motu notice of the threatening remarks.

When Mr Hashmi later rescinded his resignation, it put the party leaders in an awkward position leaving many to wonder whether it was an act of revolt or some covert strategy.

The contempt of court proceedings against Mr Hashmi had been adjourned till June 16 as Mr Hashmi had sought more time to engage counsel. On June 3, Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali also initiated action, asking the Sindh government to file a criminal case against Mr Hashmi. Subsequently, a case was registered against the former Sindh PML-N secretary general at the Bahadurabad police station in Karachi.