IHC disqualifies Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri over fake degree verdict in a decision that reshapes judicial accountability in Pakistan. On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court announced the ruling through a division bench led by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan. The bench removed Justice Jahangiri from judicial office and declared him ineligible to practice law on the basis of the same degree. IHC disqualifies Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri over fake degree verdict, a phrase that echoed across court corridors as staff observed the announcement.
The court accepted a petition filed by Advocate Mian Dawood, who challenged Justice Jahangiri’s eligibility to serve as a judge. The bench declared him unfit for judicial office and ruled that the law degree he relied on lacked authenticity. The judges reserved the verdict earlier in the day and later pronounced it in open court.
Advocate Mian Dawood welcomed the decision and stressed constitutional supremacy. He said no individual stands above the law and urged institutions to protect the dignity of the judiciary. He emphasized equal treatment under Pakistani law for ordinary citizens and powerful figures alike.
The order marks a rare constitutional step against a sitting judge. The proceedings began after questions surfaced about Justice Jahangiri’s academic credentials. The court confirmed that it would issue a detailed written order explaining the legal grounds behind the disqualification.
Justice Jahangiri has not issued a public response. Earlier, on December 17, he approached the Federal Constitutional Court to challenge a December 9 ruling by a two member IHC bench that allowed the degree verification case to proceed. He argued that the original petition lacked maintainability and sought dismissal.
At the same time, he formed a legal team that includes Barrister Salahuddin and Akram Sheikh for representation before the IHC, while Uzair Bhandari handles proceedings at the FCC. He also requested the recusal of Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and asked for a full court excluding transferred judges. He sought adjournment until resolution of a related case pending before the Sindh High Court.
A day earlier, the IHC rejected his objections regarding bench composition. The court directed the registrar of Karachi University to produce original LLB records. The judges dismissed bias claims against the Chief Justice and affirmed his authority to constitute a division bench for sensitive matters.
