IHC judge Tariq Jahangiri challenges maintainability of degree petition in FCC

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court Justice Tariq Jahangiri has approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), challenging an IHC order that declared maintainable a petition seeking verification of his academic degree.

The controversy relates to Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree, which was cancelled by the University of Karachi. A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan on December 9 declared maintainable a petition filed by Advocate Mian Dawood and issued notices to Justice Jahangiri and other respondents.

In his petition before the FCC, Justice Jahangiri maintained that the plea filed in the IHC was not admissible and requested its dismissal. Advocate Dawood has challenged Justice Jahangiri’s appointment as a high court judge, alleging that he holds a fake degree.

Separately, Justice Tariq Jahangiri has filed three petitions in the IHC in connection with the ongoing controversy. Through senior lawyer Akram Sheikh and Barrister Salahuddin, he sought the formation of a full court to hear the matter, requesting that it should not include Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and other transferred judges.

In another plea, he requested that proceedings be adjourned until a final decision is issued in a related case pending before the Sindh High Court. He also sought additional time to submit his reply.

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Degree controversy

The issue stems from a notification issued by the University of Karachi, which revoked Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree. According to the notification, the university syndicate, in its meeting held on August 31, 2024, approved Resolution No 06 in line with the decision of the competent authority, upholding the recommendation of the Unfair Means Committee.

The notification stated that Justice Jahangiri was found guilty of using unfair means and was barred for three years from admission to any university or college, as well as from appearing in any university examination. The university also clarified that he had never been enrolled as a student at Islamia Law College, Karachi, in 1989.

The matter escalated on September 16 when an IHC bench barred Justice Jahangiri from performing judicial duties. The order was passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar on a petition filed by Advocate Dawood.

On September 20, Justice Jahangiri and four other IHC judges approached the apex court against the order restraining him from judicial work. The other judges were Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Babar Sattar, Saman Rifat and Ejaz Ishaq Khan.

On September 29, a five-member constitutional bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, suspended the IHC order that had barred Justice Jahangiri from performing judicial duties.