Imaan Mazari Files Harassment Complaint Against IHC Chief Justice

ISLAMABAD: Human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir has filed a harassment complaint against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar.

The complaint, submitted to the IHC’s workplace harassment committee headed by Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz through a court associate, seeks an inquiry under the Protection Against Harassment of Women Act. Mazari alleges that she was subjected to “hostile, discriminatory, threatening, intimidating and unreasonable behaviour” by the chief justice.

She requested that Justice Dogar be found guilty of harassment and that the matter be referred to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). Mazari also shared her application on the social media platform X.

Earlier this week, she filed a plea with the IHC registrar seeking preservation of CCTV footage of an “unfortunate incident” during her exchange with the chief justice. The application requested footage from Courtroom No 1 between 9 am and 11 am on September 11, 2025, along with a copy of the footage.

The exchange occurred during a hearing on a petition challenging the placement of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Following the incident, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) condemned what it termed the judge’s “authoritarian attitude” and demanded his removal through the SJC. Similar condemnations were issued by the Balochistan Bar Council, Karachi Bar Association (KBA), and the Women’s Action Forum, which described Justice Dogar’s conduct as patriarchal, misogynistic, and gender-biased.

During Thursday’s hearing, Justice Dogar had reportedly warned Mazari of contempt proceedings and remarked he could “have her arrested” after she allegedly called him a “dictator.” Mazari responded that she was only performing her professional duty and was ready to face contempt proceedings.

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On Friday, Justice Dogar denied ever threatening arrest, claiming his remarks had been taken out of context. He said he considered Mazari “like a daughter” and had merely offered her advice. “She kept repeating fundamental rights — does this court not have its own fundamental rights?” he remarked.

His clarification was challenged in court by Mazari’s husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, while Mazari herself described the remarks as “gender discriminatory.”

The controversy has since triggered widespread criticism within the legal fraternity, with multiple bar associations and lawyers’ groups demanding accountability and calling for Justice Dogar’s removal.