A heated exchange took place at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday during the hearing of a petition seeking removal of activist Mahrang Baloch’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), when Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar engaged in a sharp verbal spat with Advocate Imaan Mazari.

According to reports, during the proceedings Chief Justice Dogar remarked: ‘If I pass an order in this case, Ms. Mazari will go downstairs and say a dictator is sitting here.’ Advocate Imaan Mazari responded that she had not said anything outside the ambit of law.

At this, the Chief Justice retorted: ‘You should also keep your mouth shut and remain within the bounds of respect.’ Mazari replied that her remarks were made in a personal capacity and should not affect her client’s case. ‘If you have a bias against me, do not let it influence my client’s case. I am here with a brief, not in a personal capacity,’ she said.

The Chief Justice then stated that Mazari had commented that ‘a dictator, not a judge, is sitting here,’ and warned that contempt of court proceedings could be initiated. Mazari responded firmly: ‘I have said nothing outside the law and Constitution. If you wish to proceed with contempt, please do so. The Constitution gives me freedom of expression, and I have exercised it.’

At one point, addressing Mazari’s husband, the Chief Justice remarked: ‘Mr. Hadi, explain it to her – if I ever catch her one day.’ To this, Mazari replied: ‘If the courts have reached a stage where they issue threats to lawyers, then you may proceed with contempt of court.’

The Deputy Attorney General intervened to steer the proceedings back to the case, arguing that the petitioner should first approach the Cabinet subcommittee for removal of the name from the ECL. The court directed that the relevant report be provided to the counsel and adjourned further hearing of the case.