President Zardari approves de-notification of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri

ISLAMABAD: The President of Pakistan has issued a notification de-notifying Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri as a judge of the Islamabad High Court in light of the court’s order.

Islamabad High Court Judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri was removed from office with immediate effect following a landmark court ruling in the fake degree case.

The notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Thursday, December 18, states that Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri is no longer eligible to continue as a judge; therefore, he is de-notified from the post with immediate effect.

The notification was issued under the signature of the ministry’s secretary, Raja Naeem Akbar.

The Law Ministry issued this notification in the context of the Islamabad High Court’s decision of the same day. The notification clearly states that this decision will be implemented immediately.

It may be recalled that on Thursday, December 18, the Islamabad High Court, while delivering a major verdict in the fake degree case, declared the appointment of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri illegal.

The divisional bench headed by Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar ruled that when Tariq Jahangiri was appointed as a judge, he did not have a valid LLB degree.

Fake degree case and court decision

It may be recalled that on Thursday, December 18, the Islamabad High Court, while delivering a major verdict in the fake degree case, declared the appointment of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri illegal.

The divisional bench headed by Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar ruled that when Tariq Jahangiri was appointed as a judge, he did not have a valid LLB degree.

According to the evidence presented in the court, the Registrar of Karachi University stated that Tariq Mahmood had taken the LLB examination using a fake enrollment number. It was further revealed that he had also been banned for three years for threatening the examination staff.

Petitioner Mian Dawood took the oath in court and said that both Justice Jahangiri’s enrollment form and degree were bogus. Karachi University also said that he had taken his exams with a different paternity, which further deepened the suspicions.

Justice Tariq Jahangiri did not appear in person during the hearing of the case, while his lawyers, Akram Sheikh and Salahuddin, took the position that the proceedings in the case in the Sindh High Court were suspended and he should be given the right to a fair trial under Article 10-A.

This decision of the Islamabad High Court is being described as an important milestone in terms of transparency in the country’s judicial system and the assessment of the educational qualifications of judges. According to the decision, Justice Jahangiri will not be eligible to serve as a judge in the future.