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| IHC's Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. — IHC website/File |
IHC Bars Justice Jahangiri from Hearing Cases Until Supreme Judicial Council Decides
IHC's Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. — IHC website/FileISLAMABAD: A two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday barred Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri from performing judicial duties until the Supreme Judicial Council rules on a petition pending against him. A divisional bench...
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri has
been barred from judicial work by the IHC pending investigation by the Supreme
Judicial Council. Islamabad Bar Council protests, strike called.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of the
Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been suspended from judicial duties until the
Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) reviews a petition filed against him. The
decision, announced on Tuesday by a two-member bench led by Chief Justice
Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Mohammad Azam Khan, follows a
petition filed by citizen Mian Dawood accusing Justice Jahangiri of misconduct.
In addition to suspending him, the
bench asked Attorney General Mansoor Awan to assist in determining whether the
petition was maintainable. Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Ashtar Ausaf were
appointed as amici curiae—legal assistants to help the court evaluate legal
issues raised in the case. For the next few court working days (September
17-19), the updated IHC roster shows Justice Jahangiri’s removal from all
benches.
The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC)
immediately reacted. In a press conference, its Chair, Raja Aleem Abbasi,
called this barring “a darkest day in the history of the judiciary.” The Bar
Council demanded that the Supreme Court take suo motu notice of the IHC’s
ruling, meaning that the court should initiate review on its own, without
requiring formal petition. They also announced protest actions: a strike in the
IHC and district courts, plus organized rallies.
According to Abbasi, only the Supreme
Judicial Council has the constitutional power—under Article 209 of Pakistan’s
Constitution—to review and remove a judge for misconduct. He argued that
barring a judge without SJC action bypasses due legal process and sets a
dangerous precedent for judicial independence.
This move has stirred both legal debate
and public concern. Many lawyers see it as an exceptional step, citing that
judges are rarely barred before the SJC produces findings. Others are watching
closely to see how the IHC and SJC balance maintaining public trust with
preserving judicial rights.
FAQs
Q1. Why was Justice Jahangiri barred
from hearing cases?
He is under a petition by Mian Dawood before the IHC alleging misconduct. The
court has suspended him until the Supreme Judicial Council determines what
should be done.
Q2. Who has the authority to remove or suspend a judge in Pakistan?
According to Article 209 of the Constitution, only the Supreme Judicial Council has the power to review accusations against judges and order removal if misconduct is proven.
Q3. What actions are the Islamabad Bar
Council taking?
The IBC has asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the IHC’s decision. They have also announced a strike in the IHC and district courts and plan protest rallies.
Q4. What does “maintainability of the petition”
mean in this context?
It refers to whether the petition filed against Justice Jahangiri meets legal standards (such as jurisdiction, proper procedure, and sufficient evidence) to be heard.
Q5. What are amici curiae and why were
they appointed?
“Amici curiae” are legal experts assisting the court. In this case, Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Ashtar Ausaf were appointed to help the IHC better understand key legal issues related to the petition, including maintainability and constitutional implications.