Human rights lawyer and activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir has filed a complaint before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar, citing his “disparaging observations” made in open court during a recent hearing, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Monday.
According to the application, submitted on Saturday, Mazari requested the council to take action against Justice Dogar for remarks she described as unbecoming of a judge.
Earlier, she filed a separate application with the IHC registrar, seeking access to CCTV footage from Courtroom No. 1 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on September 11, when she said an “unfortunate incident” had taken place. A USB drive was submitted along with her request to facilitate the provision of footage.
The complaint follows a heated exchange last Thursday during the hearing of a petition seeking the removal of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL). Mazari, representing the petitioner, clashed with the IHC chief justice after he accused her of calling him a “dictator.”
“You should keep your mouth shut and stay within the limits of respect,” Justice Dogar told Mazari during the proceedings. He further remarked that if he issued any order in the case, she would “go downstairs and hold a programme saying a dictator is sitting in court.”
Mazari denied making such comments in court and insisted her personal opinions did not affect her professional role. “I was there on behalf of my client, not as activist Imaan Mazari,” she later posted on social media, adding that she had conducted herself according to “professional etiquette.”
During the proceedings, Justice Dogar also warned Mazari of possible contempt of court proceedings. Turning to her husband and fellow lawyer, advocate Hadi Ali Chatha, he remarked: “Hadi sahib, explain it to her... if I catch her someday...”
The tense courtroom exchange came against the backdrop of broader controversies involving Mazari. Earlier this week, an additional district and sessions court in Islamabad granted interim bail to Mazari and Chatha in a case registered by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, accusing them of spreading alleged anti-state content on social media.
Mazari, who has long been a vocal critic of state authorities, was also among those calling for an inquiry into allegations of intelligence interference raised by six IHC judges earlier this year. In June, she was awarded the World Expression Forum’s Young Inspiration Award 2025 for her advocacy on rule of law and justice in Pakistan.