ISLAMABAD: Justice Tariq Jahangiri has formally challenged the ongoing proceedings in the fake degree case at the Islamabad High Court, bringing the matter to the Federal Constitutional Court.
Reportedly, Justice Jahangiri has assembled a senior legal team comprising three members to represent his case across various judicial platforms. The judge is contesting the decision that declared the case maintainable, with his plea expected to be filed later today. The appeal primarily focuses on challenging the Islamabad High Court’s directive to continue proceedings related to his alleged fake degree.
In addition to approaching the Federal Constitutional Court, he is anticipated to file new applications within the Islamabad High Court seeking further legal relief.
The controversy surrounding Justice Jahangiri traces back to the circulation of a purported letter last year from the controller of examinations at the University of Karachi, raising concerns about the authenticity of his degree. This led to a complaint being lodged with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in July last year, which oversees judicial accountability and cases of misconduct against judges. Earlier this year, a petition questioning his appointment was also submitted to the High Court by lawyer Mian Dawood.
The legal dispute experienced significant developments beginning September 16, when an Islamabad High Court division bench took up the petition and issued an interim order restricting Justice Jahangiri from performing judicial duties until the case’s maintainability was decided. The decision, made without prior notice to the judge, triggered widespread debate within legal circles about whether a sitting judge could be suspended by a high court through an interim order. However, on September 29, the Supreme Court intervened and overturned the restraining order.
A constitutional bench of five justices, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, ruled that a high court does not hold the authority to prevent a judge from discharging judicial functions while deliberating a quo warranto petition. The bench clarified that its ruling addressed only the interim order’s legality and did not delve into the merits of the allegations against Justice Jahangiri. It further directed the Islamabad High Court to resolve all preliminary objections and proceed in accordance with established legal protocols.
Justice Jahangiri’s role in controversy also extends to last year when he joined five other Islamabad High Court judges in addressing a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council. The letter accused intelligence agencies of interference in judicial affairs, igniting broader discussions on judicial independence and calls for investigations into these claims.
