The legal storm surrounding Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Jahangiri has intensified, with the judge now approaching the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to challenge an IHC order that declared a petition against him maintainable over his academic credentials.

At the heart of the dispute is the Justice Tariq Jahangiri fake degree controversy, which has raised serious legal and institutional questions about judicial accountability and due process.

Earlier this month, a division bench of the Islamabad High Court — headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan — ruled that a petition seeking verification of Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree was maintainable. The petition, filed by Advocate Mian Dawood, directly challenges Justice Jahangiri’s appointment as a high court judge, alleging that his law degree was “fake.”

Following the ruling on December 9, the bench issued notices to Justice Jahangiri and other respondents, setting the stage for a high-profile legal confrontation.

In response, Justice Jahangiri has now knocked on the doors of the Federal Constitutional Court, arguing that the petition filed in the IHC is not admissible under the law. In his plea, he has urged the FCC to dismiss the case, maintaining that the IHC should not have entertained the petition in the first place.

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This move reflects a significant escalation in the Justice Tariq Jahangiri fake degree case, as it now spans multiple constitutional forums.

Separately, Justice Jahangiri has filed three different applications within the Islamabad High Court itself. Through senior advocate Akram Sheikh and Barrister Salahuddin, he has requested the formation of a full court to hear the matter. Notably, he has asked that the full court should exclude Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and other judges who were transferred to the IHC.

In another plea, Justice Jahangiri has sought an adjournment of proceedings until a final verdict is issued in a related case pending before the Sindh High Court. He has also requested additional time to submit a detailed reply to the allegations levelled against him.

The controversy traces back to a decision by the University of Karachi, which revoked Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree. According to an official notification, the university’s syndicate, during its meeting on August 31, 2024, approved “Resolution No 06” in line with the decision of the competent authority.