The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday nullified a controversial Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruling that had barred Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from performing his judicial functions, resolving a significant judicial standoff.

A five-member constitutional panel, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, conclusively set aside the IHC’s September 16 directive. The top court had already suspended the high court’s decision a day prior to this final verdict.

During the proceedings, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan contended before the apex court that ‘no judge can be barred from judicial work through an interim order.’ This view was supported by the petitioner’s counsel, Mian Daud, who described the IHC’s restraint as indefensible.

The Supreme Court bench observed that the original petition filed in the IHC against Justice Jahangiri’s appointment carried pending objections from the SC Registrar’s Office. The court directed the high court to first decide on these objections before proceeding any further with the case.

This legal dispute originates from a complaint lodged with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in July 2023. The complaint, which is still pending adjudication, concerns an alleged fake law degree, a controversy fueled by a purported letter from Karachi University’s Controller of Examinations that circulated on social media.

In what was considered an unusual move, an IHC division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, had restrained Justice Jahangiri from his duties following a petition by Advocate Mian Daud.

In response, Justice Jahangiri personally appeared before the Supreme Court on September 19, appealing for the IHC order to be declared void and for the division bench to be prevented from conducting further proceedings in the matter.

In a separate but related development, the Sindh High Court last week dismissed seven petitions concerning the cancellation of Justice Jahangiri’s degree due to non-prosecution.