Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri has decided to challenge the proceedings of an IHC division bench in the fake degree case by filing a petition before the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan (FCC).
The division bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, is currently hearing the case related to allegations of a fake law degree against Justice Jahangiri.
Justice Jahangiri has constituted a legal team comprising three senior lawyers. Senior advocate Muhammad Akram Sheikh and Barrister Salahuddin will represent him before the Islamabad High Court, while Advocate Aziz Bhandari will plead his case before the Federal Constitutional Court.
According to sources, Justice Jahangiri is expected to file a petition today in the FCC challenging the maintainability of the case, while separate petitions will also be submitted to the IHC.
Earlier in September, the Supreme Court suspended an interim order of the Islamabad High Court that had barred Justice Jahangiri from performing judicial duties, effectively restoring him to office.
Justice Jahangiri had approached the apex court against the IHC’s interim order restraining him from judicial work until the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decided his degree-related case.
During the Supreme Court hearing, senior lawyer Muneer A. Malik argued that the restraining order violated legal principles and failed to meet the requirements of justice. He noted that this was the first instance in which a two-member high court bench had restrained one of its own judges from performing judicial functions.
Justice Jahangiri, who was present during the hearing, stated: “I will go today and hear cases.”
Meanwhile, several bar councils, including the Islamabad Bar Council and District Bar, have also sought to become parties to the proceedings.
