ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday heard a petition concerning the academic degree of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, during which the judge himself appeared before the court and raised objections to the bench composition.
A IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan heard the case.
During the proceedings, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri stepped up to the rostrum while the lawyers remained seated. Chief Justice Dogar asked the lawyers to take their seats, observing that Justice Jahangiri had appeared before the court.
Justice Jahangiri told the bench that he had received the notice only on Thursday and argued that, under the law, he should have been provided with the complete record of the case. He demanded access to the case record and formally objected to Chief Justice Dogar’s presence on the bench.
Raising his objections, Justice Jahangiri stated that both he and the chief justice were judges and that an appeal filed by him against the chief justice was pending, which, he argued, constituted a conflict of interest. He asked that his objection be recorded and maintained that a division bench of the Islamabad High Court had never heard a writ of quo warranto. He further contended that his right to be heard by a division bench had been affected and that he had been restrained from judicial work without being heard.
Justice Jahangiri said the Supreme Court had directed that the maintainability of the petition be decided first, but notices were issued without hearing him. He added that despite the petition being over one and a half years old, he was given only three days’ notice.
Stressing the seriousness of the matter, Justice Jahangiri warned against “opening a Pandora’s box” and asserted on oath that his degree was genuine. He expressed lack of confidence in the bench, requested that the case be transferred to another bench, and sought additional time to submit his reply.
The IHC summoned the registrar of Karachi University along with the complete record and directed that all relevant documents be provided to Justice Jahangiri. The petitioner requested that the case be heard on a daily basis, arguing that it had already been delayed significantly. Justice Jahangiri, however, maintained that he required more time and opposed daily hearings.
The Islamabad Bar Association president submitted that all matters must proceed according to established legal procedures and that the case could not be decided in haste. Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing until Thursday.
Justice Jahangiri reiterated that in the judicial history of Pakistan and India, no judge had been restrained from work in such circumstances. He pointed out that the Sindh High Court had already granted a stay in matters relating to his degree and that Karachi University had never declared his degree to be fake.
Responding to the arguments, Chief Justice Dogar remarked that Justice Jahangiri would receive the same justice as any other litigant and assured that he remained a respected colleague. Justice Jahangiri again urged the chief justice to recuse himself, citing conflict of interest, and argued that the matter should be referred to the Supreme Judicial Council, pointing out that a stay on the cancellation of his degree was already in place.
The next date of hearing is in the office.
