The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday officially de-notified Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri over issues concerning his law degree.
A division bench, led by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, ruled that Justice Jahangiri did not hold a valid degree at the time of his appointment and declared his appointment “illegal.”
The bench ordered him to immediately vacate his office and directed the law ministry to formally remove him from the judiciary. “He held an invalid law degree at the time of his appointment and confirmation as judge,” the court noted.
The IHC also disposed of all miscellaneous petitions related to the matter. Justice Jahangiri had left the court about half an hour before the verdict was announced.
The controversy over Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s law degree began last year when a letter, allegedly from the University of Karachi’s controller of examinations, started circulating on social media. In July, a complaint regarding his purportedly fake degree was submitted to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the top forum for judicial accountability, which investigates misconduct allegations against judges.
Advocate Mian Dawood, who filed the petition challenging Justice Tariq Jahangiri’s appointment, said the decisions already issued by the judge “will not be affected,” adding that any benefits or privileges he has received will also remain intact. He stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to initiate proceedings against Justice Jahangiri, noting, “Any further action depends on the government; if it does not file a case, it would be regrettable.”
The order sheet of the Islamabad High Court notes that “despite ample opportunities” the respondent “failed to submit a reply or produce valid educational credentials”, compelling the court to proceed with the matter on the basis of the available record. It holds that Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri “did not possess a valid LL.B. degree at the time of his appointment/confirmation”, which is a “mandatory constitutional requirement under Article 175-A of the Constitution.”