Justice Tariq Jahangiri expresses no confidence in IHC CJ Dogar–led bench

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Jahangiri has expressed a lack of confidence in the bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar in the degree controversy case and requested that the matter be transferred to another bench.

The hearing of the case related to Justice Jahangiri’s academic degree was conducted by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan. Justice Jahangiri and the counsel for the Islamabad Bar Association appeared before the court during the proceedings.

Addressing the courtroom, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar asked lawyers to take their seats, noting that Justice Jahangiri was present in court.

Justice Jahangiri stated that he had received the notice on Thursday and that it did not include a copy of the petition. He said the case was old and requested time to obtain and review the petition.

Justice Jahangiri formally objected to Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar presiding over the bench, to which the Chief Justice responded that both were judges and that a petition had been filed against Justice Jahangiri.

Justice Jahangiri argued that this amounted to a conflict of interest, stating that the Chief Justice could not hear a case against him. He maintained that his objection was not to the proceedings themselves, but to the composition of the bench.

He further contended that a writ of quo warranto is heard by a single bench, not a division bench. He also objected to being restrained from judicial work, calling it unprecedented in judicial history.

In response, the CJ remarked that Justice Jahangiri would receive the same justice as any other individual.

Justice Jahangiri further said that even in murder cases, charges are framed after seven days, whereas he had been given only three days’ notice. He cautioned that setting such a precedent in quo warranto proceedings could have far-reaching and damaging consequences.

He also stated, under oath, that his degree was genuine, adding that the university had never declared it fake nor claimed that it had not issued it.
Addressing the CJ directly, Justice Jahangiri said he did not trust the current bench and requested that the case be assigned to another bench, along with reasonable time to prepare his defence.

The IHC directed the registrar of Karachi University to appear with the relevant record and instructed that copies of the petition and all related documents be provided to Justice Jahangiri. The hearing was adjourned until Thursday, December 18.