Justice Tariq Jahangiri of the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday filed an appeal in the Federal Constitutional Court challenging the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order in the fake degree case.

The appeal comes against a decision by a two-member bench of the IHC that had issued its ruling on December 9.

In his plea, Justice Jahangiri sought the dismissal of a writ petition filed against him in the IHC, maintaining that the petition is not maintainable.

He argued that he was not given an opportunity to be heard before the petition was admitted and declared that the high court cannot adjudicate the matter without recording evidence.

According to the petition, the case regarding the validity of his LLB degree should be examined by a trial court, which is authorised to record evidence.

Justice Jahangiri has also filed three separate applications in the IHC, requesting that Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar recuse himself from the bench hearing the matter, and that the case be referred to a full court.

He further requested additional time to submit his response and asked that proceedings in the IHC be deferred until the Sindh High Court delivers its decision in a related matter.

The Islamabad High Court had earlier rejected objections raised by Justice Jahangiri over the inclusion of Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar in the bench and directed the Karachi University’s Registrar to produce the original degree record on December 18.

In its written order, the IHC stated that allegations against the chief justice had no legal basis and noted that the formation of a two-member bench in sensitive matters is within the discretionary powers of the chief justice.

Justice Jahangiri has appointed a legal team of three senior lawyers to represent him in the case: Akram Sheikh and Barrister Salahuddin will represent him in the high court, while Uzair Bhandari will handle the proceedings in the Federal Constitutional Court.

The appeal in the Constitutional Court seeks to have the IHC order set aside, and the writ petition declared inadmissible.