Degree Case: IHC Orders Removal of Justice Jahangiri from Post

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the removal of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri from his position after ruling that he was ineligible to hold judicial office due to an invalid LLB degree.

The verdict was issued by a two-member bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, with Justice Azam Khan also on the bench. The court concluded that Justice Jahangiri did not meet the legal requirements for appointment as a judge following the cancellation of his law degree by the University of Karachi (KU).

The case revolves around the authenticity of Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree, which was annulled by the KU syndicate. According to a university notification dated September 25, the syndicate, in its meeting held on August 31, 2024, approved “Resolution No 6” in line with the competent authority’s decision, endorsing the recommendations of the Unfair Means Committee (UFM).

During the hearing, KU Registrar Imran Ahmed Siddiqui appeared before the court and presented the academic and regional records related to Justice Jahangiri’s degree. He informed the bench that the principal of Islamia Law College had confirmed that Justice Jahangiri was never enrolled as a student at the institution.

Siddiqui told the court that “Justice Jahangiri was caught cheating [therefore] the [KU’s] UFM imposed a three-year ban on him for cheating and threatening the examiner,” adding that the judge was only eligible to reappear in the examinations in 1992.

The registrar further stated that Justice Jahangiri allegedly used a fake enrolment form to evade the ban and unlawfully obtain the degree. He pointed out discrepancies in the candidate’s identity, noting that Justice Jahangiri appeared in the LLB Part I examination under the name “Tariq Jahangiri son of Muhammad Akram,” while he appeared in the LLB Part II examination as “Tariq Mehmood son of Qazi Muhammad Akram.”

“Justice Jahangiri appeared in the LLB exam via a fake enrolment number,” Siddiqui remarked, adding that Islamia Law College had no record of the enrolment form submitted for the LLB Part II examination.

He further told the court that following verification of these irregularities, the university authorities confirmed the findings, after which the KU syndicate formally cancelled the degree.

However, during the proceedings, Islamabad Bar Council lawyer Raja Aleem Abbasi informed the bench that the University of Karachi’s decision to cancel Justice Jahangiri’s degree had been suspended by the Sindh High Court (SHC).