The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from his judicial duties on Tuesday, pending a Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decision on the legitimacy of his law degree. The IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the order during a hearing attended by numerous lawyers, including members of the District and High Court Bar associations.
The petition, filed by Mian Dawood, challenges the validity of Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree from the University of Karachi, a prerequisite for his judgeship. Despite Dawood’s absence and request for postponement, the court proceeded with the suspension. Lawyer Raja Aleem Abbasi questioned the petition’s admissibility, citing existing Supreme Court rulings on similar matters. The court questioned Abbasi’s standing in the case. The Islamabad Bar Association’s lawyer affirmed the Bar’s interest in judicial transparency and accountability.
Chief Justice Dogar highlighted the central issue: whether a high court can address a matter already under SJC consideration. The IHC appointed Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Ashtar Ausaf Ali as amicus curiae, adjourning the case until the SJC delivers its verdict.
Allegations surrounding Justice Jahangiri’s degree surfaced in July 2024. The University of Karachi, through official correspondence, flagged discrepancies in his academic records, including two different enrollment numbers for his LL.B. degree. University documents suggest that the enrollment numbers used by Justice Jahangiri were either assigned to another student or fraudulently obtained. The principal of Government Islamia Law College, Karachi, confirmed that no record exists of Justice Jahangiri’s enrollment. The university deemed the degree and transcripts “invalid.”
The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, seeks a writ of quo warranto against Justice Jahangiri, asserting that his allegedly fraudulent degree undermines his judicial appointment. Filed earlier this year, the petition’s maintainability was previously deliberated by former IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.
The petitioner argues that appointing a judge lacking the required credentials violates citizens’ fundamental rights. Citing precedents, including the Sajjad Ali Shah case, the petition claims that a judge with a potentially invalid degree erodes public trust and damages the judiciary’s impartiality.
Justice Jahangiri was among the five judges who contested the transfer of Justice Sarfraz Dogar and two other judges to the IHC. Last year, he also co-signed a letter to the SJC alleging intelligence agency interference in judicial affairs.