By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday overturned Karachi University’s decision to revoke the law degree of Islamabad High Court Judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, ruling that the university had violated his right to a fair trial.
In a written order, the court said Jahangiri was not given an opportunity to defend himself before the university’s syndicate and unfair means committee cancelled his degree, calling it a “violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution”.
“Unfortunately, no opportunity of hearing was extended to Mr Justice Tariq Mahmood Jehangiri and the manner so adopted appears to be highly objectionable, illegal … and without lawful authority,” the court ruled.
The controversy erupted in July when a letter circulated on social media questioning Jahangiri’s law degree, which he obtained in 1991. The university syndicate subsequently cancelled his degree last week, shortly after the detention of academic and syndicate member Dr Riaz Ahmed.
The petition filed with the SHC alleged that Justice Jahangiri was “singularly targeted, with extreme mala fide intention, according to a premeditated and conceived plan to tarnish the reputation and destroy the reputation of the honourable judge of the Islamabad High Court.”
The court ruled that the degree cancellation was “without hearing and by violating the basic settled principle of law,” adding that the petitioners’ claims “carry substantial weight.” The court also noted that Jahangiri was “condemned unheard” and the decision was “null and void.”
The SHC ordered Karachi University not to take any coercive measures based on the cancelled degree until the next hearing date. Notices have been dispatched to all respondents, including the Sindh attorney general, requesting responses within three weeks.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
