Justice Tariq Jahangiri Objects to Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar Hearing His Quo Warranto Case, Warns “Pandora’s Box Will Open”
Islamabad: The hearing of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri’s degree-related case took place at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where he appeared in court amid high tensions with Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan, presided over the proceedings. During the hearing, Justice Jahangiri came to the rostrum while the court instructed lawyers to remain seated.
Chief Justice Dogar urged the lawyers to sit and noted that Justice Jahangiri was present. In response, Justice Jahangiri raised objections, stating that he received notice on Thursday and had not been provided the full case record. He expressed that he had reservations about the Chief Justice sitting on the bench due to a conflict of interest, asserting that both were judges and that his appeal against the Chief Justice was pending.
Justice Jahangiri argued that the division bench had never heard a quo warranto case before and that his right to a division bench hearing had been affected. He claimed he was stopped from performing judicial work without being heard, despite a Supreme Court directive that the petition was admissible. He noted that the notice given was only three days for a case over one-and-a-half years old.
In a dramatic statement, Justice Jahangiri said, “Do not open Pandora’s box; everyone’s turban will fly off,” swearing on the Quran that his degree was genuine. He requested the case be transferred to another bench and asked for time to submit his response.
The Islamabad High Court summoned the registrar of Karachi University along with all relevant records and instructed that Justice Jahangiri be provided full access to documents. The petitioner requested daily hearings due to the prolonged delay in the case.
The President of the Islamabad Bar noted that all matters have legal procedures, and the case was adjourned until Thursday for further hearing.
Justice Jahangiri emphasized that such a situation had never occurred in the judicial history of Pakistan or India, noting that the Sindh High Court had already stayed the degree cancellation case, and all records were in his possession.
Chief Justice Dogar remarked that justice would be administered as it is for everyone, while Justice Jahangiri insisted that he had been unjustly stopped from his work without notice, stressing that the Supreme Judicial Council should handle the matter.
The hearing highlighted a clash between judicial authorities over the handling of the quo warranto petition and the legitimacy of Justice Jahangiri’s degree, with strong objections raised regarding conflicts of interest and procedural fairness.
