ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief whip Dr Shireen Mazari against Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

In the petition, Dr Mazari accused Mr Asif for using derogatory language towards her on the floor of the National Assembly.

The court dismissed the petition, remarking that it can intervene in matters regarding citizens` fundamental rights but matters related to parliamentary proceedings were outside its jurisdiction.

Dr Mazari`s counsel Shoaib Razzaq had argued that the case was one of defamation, and his client was personally targeted by the minister, but Justice Minallah said Mr Asif`s remarks about Dr Mazari were part of parliamentary proceedings, in which the judiciary does not interfere.

During a National Assembly session in June, Mr Asif used derogatory language towards the PTl leader, calling her a `tractor trolley`, criticising her voice and asking for her to be silenced.

After initially refusing to do so, the minister issued an `unconditional apology`, but still refused to apologise to Dr Mazari by name.

In her petition, Dr Mazari claimed Mr Asif used un-parliamentary language against her, and asked the court to direct the National Assembly speaker to forward a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the defence minister`s disqualification.

The petitioner argued that Mr Asif`s remarks were criminal in nature under section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and constituted verbal harassment, thereby creating a hostile working environment under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010.