HEC, Karachi University detail alleged forgery and dual enrollment irregularities
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. Photo Courtesy: IHC
The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to all relevant parties in the degree controversy involving Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri. Notices were sent to the federal government through the Ministry of Law, the President through the Principal Secretary, the secretary of the Judicial Commission, and the parliamentary committee on judges’ appointments.
Notices were also sent to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Karachi University. Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri has been served notice, and all parties have been asked to submit responses within three days. The court has declared the writ petition admissible.
The HEC submitted its report to the court, stating it has no role in university administrative affairs and that the petition is an internal matter of the university. The commission said universities and their authorised bodies are solely responsible for issuing degrees.
It added that Justice Jehangiri’s degree was never presented to the HEC for verification and no request is pending. The HEC clarified it neither issues nor approves degrees and cannot verify a degree not recognised by the relevant university.
Karachi University outlined the reasons for the cancellation of Justice Jehangiri’s degree. The university said 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. Under the 1989 decision, he was eligible to retake examinations in 1992. The university said the student used a fake 1990 enrolment form bearing a forged stamp of Government Islamia College to obtain a degree despite the ban.
The university added that the enrolment number 5968/87, which appears on the degree, was originally allotted to a student named Imtiaz Ahmed. Another enrolment number, 7184/87, was obtained in 1990 through forgery for LLB Part II. Multiple enrolment numbers and altered names were used to secure mark sheets and the degree.
Karachi University said a citizen, Irfan Mazhar, applied for verification of the degree on May 23, 2024. The university rechecked both enrolment numbers, and the Controller of Examinations declared dual enrolment impossible, terming the degree and mark sheets invalid.
The registrar of the Islamabad High Court emailed on July 5, 2024 seeking confirmation of the Controller’s findings, and the university verified the letter declaring the degree invalid. The principal of Islamia College confirmed that Tariq Mehmood was never enrolled at the institution between 1984 and 1991.
During court proceedings, the Chief Justice instructed the Advocate General Islamabad to read Karachi University’s report in court. The Advocate General read the responses submitted by Karachi University and HEC. Judicial Assistant Barrister Zafarullah Khan supported the admissibility of the writ petition and presented legal arguments.
Petitioner Mian Dawood, Advocate, began his arguments, highlighting the university’s letter that declared the degree fake. Written responses from HEC and Karachi University were submitted to the court.
The bench hearing the case comprises Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan. Judicial Assistant Barrister Zafarullah is also present.
