Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri on Monday raised serious concerns over the inclusion of IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar in the bench hearing a case concerning his degree, citing a clear conflict of interest.

Speaking during the hearing, Justice Jahangiri directly addressed Chief Justice Dogar, saying, “You are also a judge, I am also a judge, I filed a petition against you. This is a conflict of interest. You cannot sit in a case against me.”

The petition, filed by Advocate Mian Dawood, seeks verification of Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree, which was reportedly cancelled by the University of Karachi (UoK). According to a notification issued by the university on September 25, 2024, the university syndicate upheld the recommendation of the Unfair Means Committee in its August 31 meeting, citing Resolution No. 6.

Justice Jahangiri, maintaining the authenticity of his degree, stressed, “I swear by its validity. The university did not say that the degree is fake, nor did they issue it wrongly.” He expressed discomfort with the bench led by IHC Chief Justice Dogar and requested the case be assigned to a different bench.

The judge also raised concerns over the notice period, stating that he received the court notice only on Thursday without a copy of the petition. “A 'quo warranto' writ is never heard by a division bench but by a single bench,” he noted. Justice Jahangiri further highlighted that he had been prevented from performing judicial work, something unprecedented in the judiciary’s history.

Responding to Justice Jahangiri’s concerns, the IHC summoned the UoK registrar to provide relevant records and issued directives to ensure the judge received a copy of the petition. Justice Jahangiri requested additional time to review the petition and appoint a lawyer, emphasizing that a three-day notice was insufficient.

Meanwhile, petitioner Mian Dawood requested daily hearings, citing the considerable delay in the case. In response, IHC Chief Justice Dogar assured, “You will get justice just like anyone else gets it.”