LHCBA seeks removal of IHC chief justice over remarks against Imaan Mazari

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) has strongly condemned the reported exchange of hot words between Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari.

In a joint statement, LHCBA President Malik Asif Ahmed Neswana, Vice President Abdul Rehman Ranjha and Secretary Farrukh Ilyas Cheema said that “lawyers are officers of the court and deserve the same respect and dignity as judges who conduct proceedings within the framework of the Constitution and law.”

The statement followed Thursday’s courtroom exchange, when Chief Justice Dogar cautioned Mazari of possible contempt proceedings after she allegedly referred to him as a “dictator.”

The exchange occurred during a hearing on a petition seeking the removal of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch’s name from the exit control list (ECL).

On Friday, Justice Dogar clarified his remarks, saying Mazari was “like a daughter” to him.

“As chief justice and as an elder, I was only advising her. My words were taken out of context and turned into a controversy,” he said.

He added: “I had stated that one may disagree with my decisions, but personal attacks should not be made. When Advocate Hadi, her husband, was present, I said she should be taken away otherwise I would initiate contempt proceedings. I never said I would grab her.”

The judge further noted that contempt proceedings, if initiated, could have harmed her career.

Mazari responded on her X account, saying: “The chief justice first behaved inappropriately, harassed me at my workplace, and threatened me in open court. He has shown no remorse for his conduct and is still making sexist remarks. I am neither his daughter nor a ‘child’ — I am a professional lawyer. After creating a storm of disrespect, he now claims that his words were misquoted, yet today he repeated the same sexist comments.”

She also thanked the LHCBA saysing, “Grateful to Lahore High Court Bar Association for this much-needed statement which is crystal clear.”

The LHCBA office-bearers said Mazari had appeared before the IHC chief justice solely to represent her client, not for any personal reason, adding that the judge’s “authoritarian attitude” was a blatant violation of the judicial code of conduct. They stressed that such conduct must be kept away from judicial proceedings.

The bar leaders urged the Supreme Judicial Council to take strict notice of the incident and remove the IHC chief justice from office.

Meanwhile, Mazar’s husband Hadi Ali said on X, “The chief justice is committing a new act of misconduct every day. Today, he has lied. Can a judge lie with such ease? Yesterday, he did not say at all what he is claiming today. His exact words yesterday were: ‘Mr Hadi, make her understand! The day I catch her…’ But today he is saying, ‘the girl’s career.’”