Wasim Kambo
ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stated in a written judgment that Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri has no valid degree at the time of his appointment as judge thus his appointment is declared null and void.
A detailed decision has been issued declaring the appointment of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri as a judge as illegal and unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued a 116-page decision.
It said that Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri will be deemed to be removed from the post of High Court judge with immediate effect as he did not have a valid law degree at the time of appointment.
The order said that no person without a valid law degree is eligible for enrollment as a lawyer.
The basic condition for becoming a High Court judge due to lack of qualification as a lawyer was not fulfilled.
The court said that the University records prove that Tariq Mahmood took exams under two enrollment numbers and two different names.
The Higher Education Commission told the court that the degree was never submitted for verification to it.
The written order said that the degree obtained on the basis of fraud and forgery is legally null and void.
The position of a judge is a trust. The holding of an incompetent person in office hurts the public’s trust in the judiciary, it added.
The verdict said that Justice Tariq Mahmood was given the opportunity to present the original degree and defend it, but he could not present it.
It directed that Ministry of Law and Justice to denotify Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri as a judge immediately.