ISLAMABAD: Members of the Islamabad Bar Council observed a partial strike on Wednesday against the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order restraining Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri from judicial work.
Earlier this week, an IHC division bench had barred Justice Jahangiri from performing judicial duties until the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) rules on a complaint challenging his educational credentials. The restraining order was issued by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan.
Separately, lawyers announced to file a reference in the SJC against Chief Justice Dogar.
The strike disrupted proceedings across the court. The chief justice’s cause list was cancelled, Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz did not reach court, and the division bench comprising Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq could not commence hearings. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir is already on three days’ leave, though some lawyers appeared only in urgent cases.
High Court Bar Secretary Manzoor Jajja appealed to lawyers to stay away from court for the day.
Fake degree complaint
A complaint filed in the SJC accuses Justice Jahangiri of holding a fake law degree, arguing that his qualification from Karachi University was “invalid.” Advocate Mian Dawood, who filed the petition, alleged the judge’s degree was fabricated.
On Tuesday, the IHC restrained Justice Jahangiri from judicial work until the SJC issues its ruling. The two-page order, signed by Chief Justice Dogar and Justice Azam Khan, said that since the judge’s eligibility was in question and a complaint was pending before the SJC, he could not perform judicial functions. The court also sought assistance from the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Advocate General, and adjourned the case until 21 October.
Lawyers’ objections
Barrister Jahangir Jadoon told reporters that the chief justice had no constitutional authority to bar a judge from work in this manner, calling it a violation of oath and the Constitution.
“No action can be taken against a judge until the SJC decides the case,” he said, announcing he would file a reference in the SJC against Chief Justice Dogar.
Viral letter and controversy
The degree controversy resurfaced when a letter circulated on social media claimed that Justice Jahangiri obtained his LLB in 1991 under enrolment number 5968 — the same number already assigned to another student, Imtiaz Ahmed, who enrolled in 1987.
According to the letter, the LLB Part I transcript was issued in Jahangiri’s name, although university rules bar a candidate from having two enrolment numbers for the same programme. The letter described the degree as “incorrect” rather than explicitly “fake,” but argued that it was procedurally impossible for one student to have two enrolment numbers.
Earlier, The IHC replaced Women’s Harassment Committee head Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz with the approval of Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar.
Earlier, human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir had filed a harassment complaint against Chief Justice Dogar. The complaint had been submitted to the IHC’s workplace harassment committee through a court associate, sources said.
According to a notification issued by the IHC registrar’s office, Justice Inaam Amin Minhas has been appointed as the new head of the Women’s Harassment Committee, replacing Justice Rafat Imtiaz.