The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled a hearing for September 19 regarding a contempt petition over an alleged “malicious campaign” against Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri. The full bench, led by IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq, will include Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Babar Sattar, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
This hearing follows controversy surrounding Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree, which surfaced in July and recently resurfaced after reports that Karachi University’s syndicate had reportedly canceled the degree. The decision was made during a syndicate meeting on Saturday afternoon, prompted by objections from Dr. Riaz Ahmed, an associate professor and syndicate member, about the agenda item related to the judge’s degree.
Prior to the summer break, the full court bench held its initial hearing and issued notices to journalists Gharida Farooqi, Hassan Ayub, and Ammar Solangi, seeking their responses. The bench also issued notices to the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), directing them to submit reports within four weeks. These reports are expected to identify those involved in the alleged smear campaign and the dissemination of related content.
Justice Jahangiri is one of six judges who previously complained to the Supreme Judicial Council about alleged interference by the Inter-Services Intelligence. Their complaint included disturbing claims of spy cameras found at the entrance and inside a judge’s bedroom, which they reported to the chief justice with no subsequent action taken.
The judges believe that institutional consultations might shed light on whether other high court judges have faced similar issues. Such consultations could help the Supreme Court develop mechanisms to protect judicial independence, assign liability for undermining this independence, and provide guidance for judges dealing with interference or intimidation by members of the executive.
