ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered the removal of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, ruling that his law degree was invalid at the time of his appointment as a judge. A division bench led by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the judgement.
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Key Points:
• Justice Jahangiri must cease office immediately, as his LLB degree was declared invalid.
• The law ministry has been directed to denotify him as a judge.
• The controversy started when the University of Karachi (KU) cancelled his degree for being obtained through “unfair means,” including cheating in exams under a false name.
• Justice Jahangiri had filed complaints alleging bias against CJ Dogar and approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
• The Higher Education Commission (HEC) confirmed KU’s findings, noting the judge never verified his degree formally.
• Petitioner lawyer Mian Dawood alleged Jahangiri misused stay orders and filed multiple petitions instead of clearing his name.
• Justice Jahangiri had previously raised objections about the bench hearing his case, citing past disputes with CJ Dogar.
Background:
• The case began in 2024 when a letter allegedly from KU’s controller circulated on social media, questioning Jahangiri’s degree.
• Multiple petitions and appeals were filed in the IHC, FCC, and SJC, sparking debates on judicial accountability and independence.
• The Supreme Court earlier clarified that a high court cannot suspend a sitting judge through an interim order but allowed the case to proceed on merit.
