ISLAMABAD: Human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir has filed an application with the registrar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), requesting the preservation of CCTV footage of an “unfortunate incident” that occurred during her exchange with Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar earlier this week.
Sharing her application on X, Mazari wrote:
> “I am writing this letter to request that CCTV footage of Courtroom No-1 of the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court from 9 am to 11 am on 11 September 2025 be preserved, as an unfortunate incident occurred with me during that time, making it essential to secure the recording of the exchange.”
She also sought a copy of the footage and attached a USB with her application. The exchange took place during the hearing of a petition regarding the removal of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
The incident has sparked a strong reaction within the legal community:
On Friday, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) condemned the reported exchange of hot words, terming Justice Dogar’s conduct a “blatant violation of the judicial code of conduct.”
LHCBA leaders demanded that the Supreme Judicial Council take strict notice and remove the IHC chief justice from office.
The Balochistan Bar Council echoed this demand, while the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) also denounced his “highly inappropriate behaviour.”
The Women’s Action Forum expressed anger, calling the judge’s alleged remarks “patriarchal, misogynistic, and gender-biased,” including his paternalistic references to Mazari’s husband.
During Thursday’s hearing, Justice Dogar had warned Mazari of contempt proceedings after she allegedly called him a “dictator.” Reports also claimed he remarked he could “have her arrested.”
The following day, however, Justice Dogar denied making such remarks, clarifying that his words had been taken out of context. He said he considered Mazari “like a daughter” and was merely advising her in a fatherly tone. “She kept repeating fundamental rights — does this court not have its own fundamental rights?” he added.
Mazari rejected the explanation, terming his remarks “gender discriminatory.” Her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, who was present in court, also challenged the CJ’s denial.
The controversy has fueled widespread criticism, with several lawyers’ bodies and civil society organisations demanding accountability and even the removal of the IHC chief justice.
