Karachi University declares Justice Tariq’s degree invalid

HEC distances itself from dispute as Karachi University cites 1989 ban, forged forms and irregular enrolment numbers

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has submitted its report to the Islamabad High Court in the degree controversy involving Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, with Karachi University’s detailed response attached to the record.

According to the HEC report, the commission has no role in the administrative affairs of universities and the ongoing petition is entirely an internal matter of the university. It stated that universities and their authorised bodies are solely responsible for issuing degrees, and the HEC has no involvement in this process.

The commission informed the court that Justice Jehangiri’s degree was never presented to the HEC for verification, nor is any such request pending. The HEC neither issues nor approves degrees, and it cannot verify a degree that is not recognised by the relevant university or higher education institution. The commission added that it has no connection to the facts or circumstances of this matter.

Karachi University’s response

In its submission, Karachi University outlined the reasons behind the cancellation of Justice Jehangiri’s degree.

The university stated 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.

Karachi University said the student used a fake 1990 enrolment form to obtain a degree despite the ban. The form carried a forged stamp of Government Islamia College.

The response added that the enrolment number 5968/87, which appears on Justice Jehangiri’s degree, was originally issued to a student named Imtiaz Ahmed. It further noted that he obtained another enrolment number, 7184/87, for LLB Part II in 1990 through forgery. Multiple enrolment numbers and altered names were used to secure mark sheets and a degree.

Karachi University told the court that a citizen, Irfan Mazhar, applied for verification of the degree on May 23, 2024. The university rechecked both enrolment numbers and the Controller of Examination declared dual enrolment impossible, terming the degree and mark sheets invalid.

The university said the Islamabad High Court registrar emailed on July 5, 2024 seeking confirmation of the Controller’s findings. In response, the university verified the letter that declared the degree invalid. The principal of Islamia College also confirmed that Tariq Mehmood was never enrolled at the institution between 1984 and 1991.