HEC distances itself from dispute as Karachi University cites 1989 ban, forged forms and irregular registration numbers
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. Photo courtesy: IHC
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has submitted its report to the Islamabad High Court on the degree controversy involving Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and the detailed response of the University of Karachi is attached to the file.
According to the HEC report, the commission has no role in the administrative affairs of the universities and the ongoing petition is entirely an internal matter of the university. He stated that universities and their authorized bodies are solely responsible for issuing degrees and that the HEC is not involved in this process.
The commission informed the court that Justice Jehangiri’s title was never submitted to the HEC for verification, nor is any application pending. The HEC does not issue or approve qualifications, and cannot verify a qualification that is not recognized by the relevant university or higher education institution. The commission added that it has no connection to the facts or circumstances of this matter.
The response of the University of Karachi
In its presentation, the University of Karachi outlined the reasons behind the cancellation of Justice Jehangiri’s title.
The university claimed that in 1989, the Unfair Means Committee imposed a three-year ban on Tariq Mehmood after finding him guilty of cheating and threatening an examiner. According to the 1989 decision, he had the right to retake the exams in 1992.
The University of Karachi said the student used a fake registration form from 1990 to obtain a degree despite the ban. The form bore a forged seal of Government Islamia College.
The response added that registration number 5968/87, which appears in Justice Jehangiri’s title, was originally issued to a student named Imtiaz Ahmed. He further pointed out that he obtained another registration number, 7184/87, for LLB Part II in 1990 through forgery. Multiple registration numbers and altered names were used to secure mark sheets and a title.
The University of Karachi told the court that a citizen, Irfan Mazhar, applied for degree verification on May 23, 2024. The university re-verified both registration numbers and the Controller of Examinations declared double registration impossible, terming the degree and mark sheets as invalid.
The university said that the registrar of the Islamabad High Court sent an email on July 5, 2024 seeking confirmation of the Comptroller’s findings. In response, the university verified the letter declaring the degree invalid. The principal of Islamia College also confirmed that Tariq Mehmood was never enrolled at the institution between 1984 and 1991.
