Islamabad: Justice Tariq Jahangiri of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has alleged that IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar directly and indirectly suggested he submit a post-dated resignation to avoid proceedings related to a fake degree case. The controversy revolves around the cancellation of Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree by the University of Karachi.
Allegations Against IHC Chief Justice
In his plea before the IHC, Justice Jahangiri stated that Chief Justice Dogar discussed the pending matter with him and a few others despite the case being sub-judice.
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Justice Jahangiri claimed that Chief Justice Dogar acknowledged the tremendous pressure being applied on him to adjudicate the matter swiftly.
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During these discussions, Justice Jahangiri alleged that Dogar suggested he tender a post-dated resignation and hand it over for “safe-keeping.”
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He criticized this advice as contrary to judicial ethics, asserting that the Chief Justice should have adhered to the judicial code of conduct rather than pressuring a fellow judge to resign.
Justice Jahangiri termed these actions a violation of the judicial code of conduct and argued that Chief Justice Dogar should recuse himself from hearing the degree case, especially since the matter has also been submitted to the Supreme Judicial Council.
Background of the Fake Degree Case
The case emerged after a petition by Advocate Mian Dawood questioned the authenticity of Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree.
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A division bench of Justice Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan declared the petition maintainable on December 9 and issued notices to Justice Jahangiri and other respondents.
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A hearing on December 15 dismissed Justice Jahangiri’s objection to the inclusion of Chief Justice Dogar on the bench.
The court noted that, given the sensitive nature of allegations against a sitting judge, it was appropriate to constitute a Division Bench rather than a Single Bench. The order emphasized that the constitution of benches remains the sole prerogative of the Chief Justice.
Plea to the Federal Constitutional Court
Justice Jahangiri has now approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), challenging the IHC order.
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He requested the FCC to dismiss the petition filed in the IHC, arguing it was inadmissible.
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His plea reiterates that Chief Justice Dogar’s involvement in the bench constitutes a conflict of interest given the alleged suggestions regarding his resignation.
The case has sparked renewed attention on judicial ethics, transparency, and accountability within Pakistan’s legal system, particularly concerning allegations of invalid academic qualifications among sitting judges.
