Degree case: Justice Jahangiri moves FCC against IHC decision 

Islamabad (Web Desk): Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of Islamabad High Court (IHC) has moved the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), contesting an order of his own court that declared maintainable a petition seeking verification of his academic credentials.

The dispute centres on questions surrounding his LLB degree, which was cancelled by the University of Karachi.

A division bench of the IHC, led by Chief Justice (CJ) Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, on December 9 held admissible a petition filed by Advocate Mian Dawood and issued notices to Justice Jahangiri and other respondents.

Challenging this development, Justice Jahangiri has urged the Federal Constitutional Court to set aside the IHC order, arguing that the petition before the high court is not legally maintainable and should be dismissed

Advocate Dawood had approached the IHC questioning Justice Jahangiri’s appointment as a high court judge, alleging that his law degree was fake.

The controversy traces back to action taken by the University of Karachi, which revoked Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree.

According to a university notification, the syndicate, in its meeting held on August 31, 2024, approved Resolution No 06 in line with the decision of the competent authority, thereby endorsing the recommendations of the Unfair Means Committee.

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

The matter intensified when, on September 16, an IHC bench restrained Justice Jahangiri from performing judicial functions. The order was issued by a bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, with Justice Muhammad Azam Khan as a member.

Subsequently, on September 20, Justice Jahangiri, along with four other judges of the IHC, separately approached the Supreme Court against the order barring him from judicial work. The other judges were Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Saman Rifat, and Justice 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 prevented Justice Jahangiri from carrying out his judicial duties.