Degree Case: Islamabad High Court Declares Appointment of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri Illegal, Orders Removal from Office

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared the appointment of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri illegal and ordered his removal from office, ruling that he was not eligible to hold the position of a High Court judge.

The verdict was announced by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan. In its detailed decision, the court held that Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri did not possess a valid law degree (LLB) at the time of his appointment, rendering the appointment unlawful.

The court directed that Justice Jahangiri be de-notified as a judge and instructed the Ministry of Law to take immediate steps in this regard. The IHC stated that he was not qualified to hold judicial office due to the invalidity of his degree at the time of appointment.

Earlier, the court heard arguments in the degree controversy case. After hearing submissions from counsel, the judges retired to chambers before announcing the verdict later in the day. Arguments were presented by several senior lawyers, including Barrister Salahuddin, Akram Sheikh, Raja Aleem Abbasi, and others. The petitioner, Advocate Mian Dawood, also addressed the court.

Barrister Salahuddin requested an indefinite adjournment, arguing that 30 days should be granted to submit replies. He maintained that the matter fell within the jurisdiction of the Sindh High Court and was not maintainable before the Islamabad High Court. He clarified that he was not arguing the case on merit but only pressing his pending applications.

Barrister Salahuddin further contended that for the past one and a half years, there had been propaganda alleging a fake degree. He stated that the Registrar of Karachi University had admitted that Justice Jahangiri had appeared in LLB Parts I to III, and that the issue was not of a fake degree but of procedural irregularities in the issuance process, which later led to cancellation.

He argued that it was yet to be determined whether Karachi University was stating the truth after 40 years and pointed out that the Sindh High Court had already suspended the university’s declaration and related proceedings. He added that Karachi University had failed to disclose before the Islamabad High Court that the Sindh High Court had stayed the matter, and that a contempt petition had been filed against the university registrar for concealing facts.

The Chief Justice questioned why a reply had not yet been filed in the Islamabad High Court when submissions had been made before the Sindh High Court. Barrister Salahuddin responded that the Higher Education Commission’s record had only been received a day earlier.

After concluding the hearing, the bench reserved its decision, which was later announced, declaring the appointment illegal and ordering Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri’s removal from office.