IHC degree case bench stands dissolved

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) newly constituted bench that was supposed to resume hearing a plea that accused IHC judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of having a dubious LLB degree also stands dissolved.

A division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan on September 16 stopped Justice Jahangiri from performing his duties as it issued notices on the petition filed by Mian Dawood Advocate.

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. On Tuesday, the bench was supposed to hear a plea filed by the Islamabad District Bar Association to become a party to the case.

However, when the bench resumed hearing the case, Justice Soomro recused himself citing personal reasons. This led to the dissolution of the bench which will now be reconstituted at the next hearing.

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.

The university's registrar stating that Tariq Mahmood son of Qazi Muhammad Akram had been found guilty of using unfair means in late 80s.

"[He] was debarred for three years to take admission in any university/college and to appear in any university degree examination under Disqualification Circular No 88 of 1989 and was never a student of Islamia Law College Karachi.

"In compliance with the syndicate meeting held on August 31, 2024 vide Resolution No 06, the LLB results and degree of Tariq Mehmood bearing Seat No 22857; Enrollment No AIL-7124/87 is hereby withdrawn and cancelled," it added.

The Sindh High Court, however, suspended the University of Karachi's notification on October 3.