The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved the appeal for the reinstatement of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, declaring null and void the Islamabad High Court’s earlier order that had barred him from judicial work.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Attorney General of Pakistan endorsed Justice Jahangiri’s appeal, while petitioner Mian Dawood, who had originally filed the case against him, also agreed with the attorney general’s stance.
The case against suspending Justice Jahangiri from work was heard in the Supreme Court by a five-member constitutional bench headed by Justice Aminuddin. Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri himself was also present in court during the proceedings.
On another front, an important and noteworthy development took place in the Sindh High Court (SHC), where a petition was heard regarding Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s challenge to the Karachi University Syndicate and the Unfair Means Committee’s decision.
Justice Iqbal Kalhoro, while issuing remarks, stated that notices would be served to the parties involved, and the court would await their responses. Later, the hearing was adjourned.
During the proceedings, Barrister Salahuddin appealed to the court to declare Karachi University’s decision of September 25 unlawful.
He argued that there are at least four Supreme Court rulings that state that universities cannot cancel degrees without prior notice. He added that similar petitions had earlier been dismissed by the High Court for non-prosecution.
Justice Iqbal Kalhoro inquired whether there was any documentary evidence proving the right to sit in the examination or admission to the university.
To this, Barrister Salahuddin responded that, according to their position, the Karachi University Act does not grant the institution the authority to cancel degrees.
Barrister Salahuddin further argued that the entire case was based on malice, as the complaint had originally been filed by a man named Irfan from Orangi Town.
On this, Justice Iqbal Kalhoro once again remarked that notices would be issued to the parties and responses awaited, after which the hearing was adjourned.
Meanwhile, following Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s reinstatement to his position, a notice was displayed outside his courtroom in IHC announcing the resumption of case hearings. Justice Jahangiri conducted proceedings in his court today.
After the SC verdict, Justice Mohsin Kayani congratulated Justice Jahangiri and said that the judges felt like the accused while standing in the dock.
He, in response to a question about the judges' union, said that this is not a matter of the union; it is a matter of principle. Answering another query, he said the matter of threats to judges is pending before the Judicial Council and the Chief Justice.
Reporters: Amanat Gishkori, Jawad Asif, and Hashir Warraich