Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Tariq Jahangiri on Monday expressed a lack of confidence in the bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar in a case concerning the authenticity of his academic degree. He formally requested that the matter be transfer to another bench, citing a conflict of interest.
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The hearing was conducted by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan. Justice Jahangiri, along with counsel for the Islamabad Bar Association, appeared before the court during the proceedings. At the outset, the chief justice asked lawyers to take their seats, noting Justice Jahangiri’s presence in the courtroom.
جسٹس طارق جہانگیری نے ڈگری تنازع کیس میں چیف جسٹس اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ سرفراز ڈوگر کے بینچ میں بیٹھنے پر اعتراض اٹھاتے ہوئے، کیس دوسرے بینچ کو منتقل کرنے کا مطالبہ کردیا۔ pic.twitter.com/R4YRTNnZ3X
— Suno Pakhtunkhwa (@sunofm96KP) December 15, 2025
Justice Jahangiri informed the court that he had received the notice only on Thursday and that it did not include a copy of the petition. Describing the case as an old matter, he requested additional time to obtain and review the relevant documents before responding.
Formally objecting to the chief justice presiding over the bench, Justice Jahangiri argued that hearing a petition filed against him amounted to a conflict of interest. He clarified that his objection was not to the proceedings themselves, but to the composition of the bench.
He further contended that a writ of quo warranto should be heard by a single bench rather than a division bench. Justice Jahangiri also objected to being restrained from judicial work, calling such an action unprecedented in judicial history.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Justice Dogar remarked that Justice Jahangiri would receive the same justice as any other individual. Justice Jahangiri, however, pointed out that even in serious criminal cases, charges are framed after seven days, whereas he had been given only three days’ notice.
Stating under oath that his degree was genuine, Justice Jahangiri said the issuing university had never declared it fake. He requested the case be assigned to another bench and sought reasonable time to prepare his defence.
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The court directed the registrar of Karachi University to appear with the relevant record and ordered that copies of the petition and related documents be provided to Justice Jahangiri. The hearing was adjourned until December 18.