Rights activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir has formally lodged a harassment complaint and misconduct reference against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, following a courtroom altercation last week that has sparked outrage across Pakistan’s legal community.
On Monday, Mazari approached both the IHC Workplace Harassment Inquiry Committee and the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), alleging that Justice Dogar subjected her to sexist, threatening, and hostile behavior during court proceedings on September 11, with further remarks made in her absence the next day.
Complaint Details Harassment and Misuse of Authority
Filed under Section 4 of the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, the complaint describes a pattern of misogynistic conduct and abuse of judicial authority. It claims that Justice Dogar, in open court, threatened Mazari with contempt of court and made demeaning and gendered remarks, including implied threats of “getting a hold of her.” She noted that similar inappropriate behavior occurred in an earlier case on August 12, involving journalist Asad Ali Toor, where the judge allegedly questioned her professionalism with personal comments.
Mazari stated that the hostile conduct created an intimidating work environment, witnessed by her husband, fellow lawyers, journalists, and court staff. She alleged that the Chief Justice’s actions demonstrated a repeated misuse of power fueled by a patriarchal mindset and personal bias.
The complaint requested that the IHC inquiry committee initiate an investigation, find Justice Dogar guilty of workplace harassment, and issue recommendations to the SJC for appropriate action. The committee assigned to the case includes Justices Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
Broader Legal and Public Response
The complaint was accompanied by widespread condemnation from lawyers’ associations, many of whom have called for Justice Dogar’s dismissal over his conduct. Legal professionals have emphasized the danger of unchecked judicial power and the importance of upholding gender sensitivity and respect in the courtroom.
Mazari also criticized the Chief Justice for continuing to target her in her absence. On September 12, he allegedly repeated sexist remarks and issued further threats of contempt while calling her a “child” in front of a full courtroom, despite her established reputation in the legal field.
The complaint argues that Justice Dogar’s actions fall within the legal definitions of both misconduct and harassment, asserting that his “sexist, discriminatory and threatening conduct” not only violated workplace protections but also undermined the dignity and safety of women professionals in judicial spaces.
Separately, Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, have also been summoned by a district and sessions court on Wednesday in a pending case regarding alleged anti-state social media activity, for which a challan was presented to Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah earlier today.
The latest development places increased scrutiny on the conduct of superior court judges and reignites debates about accountability, power dynamics, and gender discrimination within Pakistan’s judiciary.
