Not even a patwari can stop working like you stopped me, says Justice Jahangiri
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. Photo courtesy: IHC
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri appeared before a division court on Monday in connection with a petition challenging the validity of his law degree. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, heard the case related to the quo warranto petition that has been pending for over a year.
“You are also a judge and I am also a judge. My appeal against you is pending,” Jahangiri told Chief Justice Dogar, requesting that the objection be registered. He noted that the judges had filed an appeal against CJ Dogar’s transfer, arguing that it created a conflict of interest.
Justice Jahangiri argued that he had been barred from carrying out judicial work without being heard, despite raising objections to the petition. He questioned receiving only three days’ notice for a petition filed a year and a half ago.
Read: IHC to hear eligibility challenge against Justice Jahangiri
He further argued that the court was violating its own procedures, claiming that the IHC had never before heard a quo warranto petition through a division bench. “My right to a division bench has been affected,” he said.
“Don’t open this Pandora’s box, everyone’s turbans will fly off,” Judge Jahangiri said. He defended his credentials, swearing on the Quran that his degree is genuine and pointed out that the University of Karachi had never declared his degree to be fake.
“I have no confidence in you. You should not listen to this case,” Jahangiri told Dogar. The Chief Justice responded: “Okay, never mind; that decision has already been made. You were kind enough to take everyone to the Supreme Court.”
When Justice Jahangiri insisted that he should have received proper notice, CJ Dogar said it had already happened. “No, sir, it is not so. You should have issued me a notice,” Justice Jahangiri replied.
Read more: IHC suspends Justice Jahangiri amid fake degree controversy
Invoking judicial history, Justice Jahangiri said such treatment was unprecedented. “Not even a patwari is stopped from working in the same way you stopped me,” he said. He noted that the Sindh High Court (SHC) had granted a stay on the cancellation of his title and suggested that the matter should be left to the Supreme Judicial Council.
Chief Justice Dogar assured Jahangiri that he would receive justice like anyone else. The court ordered that records be submitted to the registrar of Karachi University and all documents be handed over to Justice Jahangiri.
The petitioner requested daily hearings, saying too much time had already passed, and Justice Jahangiri requested more time to file his response.
The hearing was adjourned until Thursday.
