IHC Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri appears before bench and says on oath that his degree is genuine
ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Dec 15th, 2025) Islamabad High Court Justice Tariq Jahangiri on Tuesday expressed a lack of confidence in the bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar hearing the case related to his academic degree and demanded that the matter be transferred to another bench.
A IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan was hearing the case.
As the hearing commenced, Justice Tariq Jahangiri himself appeared before the court along with a lawyer representing the Islamabad Bar Association.
During the proceedings, the chief justice remarked that the honourable judge had appeared and that he wished to hear only Justice Jahangiri. Justice Jahangiri informed the court that he had received the notice only on Thursday and that even a copy of the petition had not been provided. He noted that the case was 34 years old and requested time to obtain and review the petition.
Justice Jahangiri objected to Chief Justice Dogar’s presence on the bench, arguing that it amounted to a conflict of interest. “You are a judge and so am I. An appeal filed by me against you is pending. You cannot hear this case against me,” he said, requesting that his objection be formally recorded.
He further argued that a writ of quo warranto is not heard by a division bench but by a single bench, adding that he had been restrained from judicial work—an action he said had no precedent in judicial history. “Even a peon is not stopped from work in this manner,” he remarked. In response, Chief Justice Dogar stated that Justice Jahangiri would receive justice in the same manner as any other litigant.
Justice Jahangiri also pointed out that in serious criminal cases, including murder trials, charges are framed after at least seven days, whereas he had been given only three days’ notice in this matter. He cautioned that setting such a precedent in quo warranto petitions could have disastrous consequences.
Taking an oath, Justice Jahangiri stated that his degree was genuine, adding that the university had never declared it fake nor raised any issue regarding its issuance.
Reiterating his stance, Justice Jahangiri told the chief justice that he had no confidence in the bench and requested that the case be transferred to another bench if it was to be heard, along with reasonable time to submit his response.
The Islamabad High Court summoned the registrar of Karachi University along with the complete record and directed that copies of the petition and all relevant documents be provided to Justice Jahangiri. The court adjourned the hearing until Thursday, December 18.
