ISLAMABAD – President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the de-notification of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Jahangiri, following a court ruling declaring his appointment illegal. The verdict cited allegations regarding a fake law degree, which questioned his eligibility for judicial office.
The Presidency confirmed that the decision was made on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and in compliance with the Islamabad High Court’s judgment. Justice Tariq Jahangiri, appointed in December 2020 during the PTI government, has been at the center of a long-standing controversy over the authenticity of his LLB degree from Karachi University’s Islamia Law College.
A two-member bench led by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar ruled that Justice Jahangiri’s appointment violated Article 175 of the Constitution. The court noted that he did not meet the necessary qualifications for a judge, as his law degree was invalid at the time of appointment. The Ministry of Law was instructed to de-notify him immediately.
Justice Jahangiri did not appear in court. He was represented by Advocate Akram Sheikh and Barrister Salahuddin. During the proceedings, Karachi University’s Registrar Imran Siddiqui confirmed that Jahangiri’s degree had been formally cancelled. He added that Jahangiri had never been a student at Islamia Law College and had used a fake enrollment form to sit for the exam after a prior ban for cheating.
His lawyers argued that the ruling violated his constitutional right to a fair trial under Article 10-A. They stated that only the Supreme Judicial Council, under Article 209, could bar a judge from performing judicial duties. Barrister Salahuddin also described the case as procedural, not about a fake degree, and criticized the negative media campaign against Justice Jahangiri.
Justice Jahangiri previously served as Advocate General Islamabad and Deputy Attorney General. He also represented former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG reference case and presided over high-profile IHC benches, including granting protection to former PM Imran Khan in 2023.
In other news read more about IHC Disqualifies Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri Over Fake Degree Allegations
This de-notification is one of the rare instances in Pakistan’s history where a judge’s credentials have been publicly challenged. The case has sparked debate about judicial accountability, transparency, and political influence in appointments.
