HEC distances itself from controversy as Karachi University cites 1989 ban, forged forms and irregular enrollment numbers
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. Photo: IHC
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has submitted its report to the Islamabad High Court in the degree controversy involving Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, with Karachi University’s detailed response attached to the minutes.
According to the HEC report, the commission has no role in the administrative affairs of the universities and the ongoing petition is purely an internal matter of the university. It stated that universities and their authorized bodies are solely responsible for awarding degrees and the HEC has no involvement in this process.
The commission informed the court that Justice Jehangiri’s degree was never submitted to the HEC for verification, nor is any such request pending. HEC neither issues nor approves degrees and it cannot verify a degree that is not recognized by the relevant university or higher education institution. The Commission added that it has no connection to the facts or circumstances of this case.
Karachi University Answer
In its submission, Karachi University outlined the reasons behind the cancellation of Justice Jehangiri’s degree.
The university said the Unfair Means Committee imposed a three-year ban on Tariq Mehmood in 1989 after finding him guilty of cheating and threatening an examiner. Under the 1989 decision, he was eligible to retake the exam in 1992.
Karachi University said the student used a fake enrollment form from 1990 to obtain a degree despite the ban. The form bore a forged stamp of Government Islamia College.
The reply added that enrollment number 5968/87, which appears on Justice Jehangiri’s degree, was originally issued to a student named Imtiaz Ahmed. It further noted that he obtained another enrollment number, 7184/87, for LLB Part II in 1990 by forgery. Multiple enrollment numbers and changed names were used to secure grades and a degree.
Karachi University told the court that a citizen, Irfan Mazhar, applied for degree verification on May 23, 2024. The university rechecked both enrollment numbers and the examiner declared double enrollment impossible, thus invalidating the degree and mark sheets.
The university said the registrar of the Islamabad High Court sent an email on July 5, 2024 seeking confirmation of the registrar’s findings. In response, the university confirmed the letter declaring the degree invalid. The principal of Islamia College also confirmed that Tariq Mehmood was never enrolled in the institution between 1984 and 1991.
