Controversy stems from courtroom clash during Mahrang Baloch ECL hearing
islamabad
Lawyer Imaan Mazari has filed a grievance letter over what she termed “inaction” on her workplace harassment complaint against Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar.
In her letter to Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, the “competent authority” under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, Mazari said she had received no update on her case despite the Act’s requirement that charges be communicated to the accused “within three days” and a defence filed within seven.
Mazari submitted a grievance letter today (Friday) to competent authority against accused Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Sarfaraz Dogar [Source:X]
She described the replacement of Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, who first took cognisance of her complaint, as “unlawful”, arguing that “the accused cannot alter the competent authority or impede my complaint by abusing his position of authority.” Mazari further alleged that IHC CJ Dogar was engaging in “continuing acts of reprisal” after her complaint.
She cited the hearing of her client Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s case, where her proxy counsel requested a transfer but Dogar refused. “No woman subjected to such treatment should be required to appear before her alleged harasser,” she wrote.
She also noted that her application seeking preservation of CCTV footage from the incident of remained “unanswered”.
Conflict History
The confrontation between Mazari and CJ Dogar began on Sept 11 during a hearing on Mahrang Baloch’s petition to remove her name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) since March after protests in Quetta and was barred from travelling to attend the Time 100 Gala in the US. During the hearing, IHC CJ Dogar lashed out at Mazari, saying: “You should keep your mouth shut and stay within the limits of respect.” He accused her of earlier calling him a “dictator” and warned of contempt charges. Turning to her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chatta, he said: “Hadi sahib, explain it to her… if I catch her someday…”
Mazari, however, insisted she was acting solely in her professional capacity and stressed that her client’s case should not suffer due to the judge’s grievances.
In the days that followed, Mazari began formally documenting her complaints. On Sept 13, she moved the IHC registrar for preservation of CCTV footage of Courtroom No. 1, even providing a USB for evidence storage.
On Sept 14, she reiterated her request in writing. That same day, bar associations nationwide condemned Dogar’s remarks, with the Lahore High Court Bar Association demanding his removal.
