In IHC, Iman Mazari and CJ Dogar have a heated argument.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and the petitioner’s attorney, advocate Iman Mazari, got into a heated argument during Thursday’s hearing on a petition to have the name of Mahrung Baloch, the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), removed from the Exit Control List (ECL).

CJ Dogar, annoyed by Mazari’s earlier comments that seemed to be outside the purview of the case, stated, “You should keep your mouth shut and stay within the limits of respect.” He mentioned that she had called him a “dictator” and refused to give any instructions on the subject.

Arshad Kayani, Pakistan’s Deputy Attorney General, informed the court during the hearing that cabinet clearance would be required before a final decision regarding Mahrung’s removal from the ECL could be made.

“Ms. Mazari will go downstairs and hold a program saying a dictator is sitting in court,” CJ Dogar added, aiming his comments at Mazari.

Mazari maintained that her personal views were protected by free expression and shouldn’t influence her client’s case, although she didn’t say which statements the CJ was objecting to. “I am not here in a personal capacity; I am here with a [legal] brief.”

As the heated argument went on, CJ Dogar threatened to charge the petitioner’s attorney with contempt. He went to counsel Hadi Ali Chatta, Mazari’s husband and fellow attorney, adding petrol to the fire by saying, “Hadi sahib, explain it to her…if I catch her someday…”

Later, Mazari used X to reiterate that she was not “activist Imaan Mazari” but rather that she was at IHC on behalf of her client. “According to professional etiquette (and a court should do the same)” was how she emphasised her behaviour.

“Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s case should not suffer because of any grievances a judge may have with her lawyer over the right to freedom of expression in a personal capacity.”

Unfazed, Mazari insisted that the court was now “threatening” attorneys throughout the hearing. She stated, “Go ahead with contempt proceedings,” prior to the deputy attorney general’s comment about the cabinet.

Without making any notable progress in the case, the hearing was postponed until September 16.

Mahrung’s court case

In accordance with Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public peace (MPO), a law that permits authorities to detain those who are thought to pose a threat to public peace, Mahrung is currently being held at Quetta’s Hudda District Prison.

After a police raid during BYC’s demonstration against enforced disappearances, she was arrested in March on charges of damaging Quetta Civil Hospital and inciting public disorder.

In March of this year, she and fellow Baloch Yakjehti were placed on detention for 20 days by an anti-terrorism court. Then, her confinement was prolonged.

When Mahrung was stopped at the airport in 2024 while flying to the US for the Time 100 Gala, she was informed that her name was on the ECL.

Through her solicitors, Mahrung has since filed numerous petitions with the court to be removed from the ECL.