The Islamabad High Court (IHC) disqualifies Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar from hearing a case against Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. The decision comes after Justice Jahangiri filed multiple petitions challenging the proceedings of an IHC division bench.
Justice Jahangiri, who faces allegations regarding a fake law degree, claimed that Chief Justice Dogar pressured him to resign. He also accused the IHC Chief Justice of misconduct in the handling of his case. The allegations were raised through three separate petitions filed before the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan and the IHC.
In his petitions, Justice Jahangiri contended that Chief Justice Dogar’s involvement violated the Code of Conduct for Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. The petitions argued that this conflict of interest barred the Chief Justice from participating in the proceedings.
Additionally, Justice Jahangiri submitted a formal complaint against Chief Justice Dogar to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He claimed that discussions about the pending case took place while it remained sub judice, compromising impartiality.
The IHC disqualifies Chief Justice Dogar following these claims, acknowledging potential bias in the handling of the fake degree allegations. Justice Jahangiri stated that the Chief Justice had admitted to facing “tremendous pressure” to quickly adjudicate the matter against him.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the judges involved. Legal experts say the IHC disqualifies the Chief Justice in rare instances to preserve judicial transparency and integrity.
Observers note that this development could have broader implications for judicial conduct and the handling of sensitive cases in Pakistan. The Supreme Judicial Council is expected to review the formal complaint filed by Justice Jahangiri against Chief Justice Dogar.
The decision reinforces the principle that judges must avoid conflicts of interest and maintain impartiality, particularly in cases involving allegations of misconduct within the judiciary.
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