ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the High Education Commission (IHC)the authority that regulates universities and degree awarding institutions in the countryto present the educational record of IHC judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri.
A division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan on Tuesday issued this order while hearing a petition, accusing Justice Jahangiri of having a dubious law degree.
During the hearing, the court asked about the whereabouts of the court-appointed amicus curiae. Barrister Zafarullah Khan informed the bench that he was present in compliance with the court’s directions.
The counsel for the Islamabad District Bar Association said the bar had moved an application to become a party to the case. The bench responded that the request would be considered later, adding that the immediate priority was to obtain the educational record of the judge from the HEC.
“We are only asking the HEC for the record at this stage, without delving into the case merits,” the CJ said. The bench later adjourned the hearing indefinitely.
The division bench, consisting of Justice Dogar and Justice Khan on September 16 stopped Jahangiri from performing his duties as it issued notices on the petition filed by Mian Dawood Advocate.
Interestingly, the bench also sought assistance from Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on the question of whether the petition was maintainable.
It also appointed senior lawyers Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Ashtar Ali Ausaf as amici curiae.
The bench noted that until the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decided the matter, the judge could not handle cases.
The IHC judge and a number of his colleagues had later moved the Supreme Court, which on September 30 set aside the interim order of the division bench.
Meanwhile the bench was reconstituted with Justice Khadim Hussian Soomro replacing Justice Muhammad Azam Khan. However, when the new bench resumed hearing the case on October 28, Justice Soomro recused himself citing personal reasons.
Last year, the syndicate of the University of Karachi cancelled the degree of the IHC judge.
On September 25, after the IHC stopped the judge from performing duties, the university also issued a notification confirming the decision of its syndicate.
