KU defends stance on judge's degree

KARACHI:

The Karachi University informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that its degree was not a public document, rather it was the property of the student, to whom the degree was awarded, stressing that petitions on the issue of degree of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri were unjustified.

The SHC heard the petitions filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar, the Karachi Bar and others on the issue of degree of Justice Jahangiri, a judge of the Islamabad Hgih Court (IHC). During the hearing, the Karachi University and the police submitted their replies.

The university said in its response that the petitioners had no right to file such a petition because the university degrees were not public documents, adding that the petitioners could have contacted the university if there were apprehensions of a fake degree.

It added that the petitioners had tried to link a student's degree to the independence of the judiciary and attempted to make a point without hearing the university that it had done something illegal. It said the petitions were based on assumptions and tantamount to interfering with the university's affairs.

Continuing, the reply said that educational institutions were the temples of learning and operated under their own set of principles. It added that the order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) was in accordance with the rules made by it and as per the records of the university provided to it.

Later, the federal government and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) sought time for submitting their replies. On that the court adjourned further hearing of the petitions for three weeks.