Imaan Mazari requests CCTV footage following exchange with IHC chief justice

Advocate submits USB drive along with her application to facilitate the provision of the requested footage

Advocate Imaan Mazari filed an application with the registrar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday, requesting access to CCTV footage following remarks made about her by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar.

In her plea, Mazari asked the court to provide footage from September 11, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., specifically from Courtroom No. 1, where she said an “unfortunate incident” had taken place.

She also submitted a USB drive along with her application to facilitate the provision of the requested footage.

The request follows a heated exchange on Thursday between Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Imaan Mazari during the hearing of a petition seeking the removal of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Mahrang Baloch’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL). Mazari was representing the petitioner.

Read More: Imaan Mazari, CJ Dogar exchange heated words in IHC

“You should keep your mouth shut and stay within the limits of respect,” the chief justice said, irked by remarks he alleged Mazari had made outside the scope of the case. He referred to her calling him a “dictator” and subsequently declined to issue directives on the matter at hand.

Deputy Attorney General Arshad Kayani informed the court that cabinet approval would be required before a final decision could be made on removing Baloch’s name from the ECL.

Directing further remarks at the petitioner’s lawyer, the chief justice said: “Ms Mazari will go downstairs and hold a programme saying a dictator is sitting in court.”

Imaan defended herself, saying her personal opinions were free speech and should not affect her client’s case. She said she was in court as a lawyer, not as an activist.

The exchange escalated as Justice Dogar warned Mazari of possible contempt charges. Turning to her husband and fellow lawyer, advocate Hadi Ali Chatta, he added: “Hadi sahib, explain it to her... if I catch her someday...”

Following the hearing, Mazari reiterated on social media platform X that she had been present in court in a professional capacity. “I was there on behalf of my client, not as activist Imaan Mazari,” she wrote, stressing that she conducted herself “according to professional etiquette (and a court should do the same).”