Imaan Mazari like a daughter to me, says IHC CJ clarifying contempt remarks

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on Friday clarified his earlier remarks about initiating contempt of court proceedings against advocate Imaan Mazari, saying that she is like a daughter to him.

The clarification came a day after he heard a petition filed by activist Mahrang Baloch seeking the removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL), during which an exchange took place between the bench and advocate Imaan Mazari.

According to state-run APP, during Thursday’s hearing the chief justice had addressed Imaan Mazari, saying: “You said I am not a judge but a dictator — why should contempt of court proceedings not be initiated against you?” Mazari responded that she had not said anything outside the bounds of the law and the Constitution.

However, while hearing another case on Friday, Chief Justice Dogar said his remarks had been taken “out of context.”

“Imaan Mazari is like a daughter to me. Yesterday, I was only trying to counsel her as an elder and as the chief justice,” he said, adding that his comments had been misrepresented and blown out of proportion.

He explained that he only meant to advise her not to make personal remarks, even if she disagreed with judicial decisions. “I never said I would have her arrested. This impression has been wrongly spread since yesterday,” he remarked.

The chief justice added that he was concerned contempt proceedings could damage her career. “I tried to explain it to her like one would to their own children, but she was not understanding. She kept insisting on fundamental rights — does this court not have fundamental rights too?” he questioned.