Degree case: Justice Tariq Jahangiri objects to IHC chief justice-led bench

ISLAMABAD: Justice Tariq Jahangiri has raised an objection to the inclusion of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice the Sardar Sarfraz Dogar on a bench hearing the alleged fake degree case against him.

Justice Jahangiri has demanded that the case be transferred to another bench.

A bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan heard the alleged degree case involving Justice Tariq Jahangiri.

During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that the respected judge has shown up in the court and he only wished to hear Justice Jahangiri.

Justice Tariq Jahangiri responded that he had received the notice on Thursday, but it did not even include a copy of the petition.

He said that it was a 34-year-old case and requested time to obtain the petition copy. “You are also a judge, I am also a judge. I have filed a petition against you,” he said.

Justice Jahangiri told the court that there was a conflict of interest and that the chief justice could not sit against him in the case.

“My objection is that you should not hear this case. A writ of quo warranto is never heard by a division bench; it is heard by a single bench. You have even restrained me from performing judicial work, something that has never happened before in judicial history,” he said.

Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar remarked that the lawyers should take their seats, saying that Jahangiri was no longer a lawyer but his colleague. Justice Jahangiri replied that even a peon is not barred from work in such a manner.

“Even in a murder case, charges are framed after seven days, but you have given only three days’ notice. If this becomes a judicial precedent, it will have disastrous consequences,” he added.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Jahangiri said that, placing his hand on the Holy Quran and considering Allah as witness, he stated that his degree was genuine. He said the university had not declared the degree fake nor said that it had not been issued.

“I do not have confidence in your bench. If the case is to be heard, please send it to another bench,” he said.

Subsequently, the IHC summoned the registrar of the University of Karachi along with the record and directed that the petition and all relevant documents be provided to Justice Tariq Jahangiri.

The court then adjourned the hearing of the degree case until Thursday.

Background of the Case

A complaint regarding the alleged fake degree of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri was filed with the Supreme Judicial Council in July 2023. A petition challenging his appointment was also filed in the IHC earlier this year.

The matter revolves around a letter that began circulating on social media last year, allegedly issued by the Controller of Examinations of the University of Karachi, referring to the judge’s law degree.

In an unusual development, on September 16 this year, an IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued a written order after hearing a plea by Advocate Mian Daud seeking to restrain Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from performing judicial duties.

On September 19, 2025, Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri personally appeared before the Supreme Court to challenge the decision, requesting that the order barring him from judicial work be declared null and void and suspended, and that the division bench be restrained from further proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court had dismissed seven petitions challenging the cancellation of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri’s degree due to non-prosecution.

The Supreme Court earlier declared null and void the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) September 16 order that had restrained Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from performing judicial duty

Earlier, the IHC declared a petition challenging the academic credentials of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri maintainable,