The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared the fake degree case against Islamabad High Court’s Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri admissible.

A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Azam Khan, issued notices to Justice Jahangiri and all relevant parties.

The court directed that all responses be submitted within three days.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who acted as amicus curiae, supported the admissibility of the case, while the Islamabad District Bar submitted arguments opposing the petition.

During the hearing, petitioner Mian Dawood argued that the response from Karachi University confirmed that Justice Jahangiri’s degree was fake, and that the quash petition against an IHC judge could be heard in the same court.

Lawyer Ahmed Hassan, representing the Islamabad Bar, countered that the petitioner was not an affected party in the case.

Chief Justice Dogar remarked that misconduct and eligibility for judicial office are separate matters.

Hassan added that an intra-court appeal against judges’ transfers is currently pending, and requested that Justice Dogar not hear the case.

Member of the Islamabad Bar Council Raja Aleem Abbasi, also suggested transferring the case to another bench, citing a stay order issued by the Sindh High Court.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan reiterated his support for the case’s admissibility.

The division bench declared the case admissible and issued notices to Justice Jahangiri, the federal government, the President, Secretary of the Judicial Commission, Parliamentary Committee for Judicial Appointments, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Karachi University.

All parties have been directed to submit their replies within three days.