The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended Karachi University’s decision to revoke the degree of Islamabad High Court's (IHC) Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. In the case concerning the cancellation of the degree, the registrar of Karachi University, Professor Imran Siddiqui, appeared before the bench of Sindh High Court’s Justice Iqbal Kalhoro. During the hearing, the registrar informed the court that the university had only received notice two days ago and requested additional time to submit a response.

At this, Justice Kalhoro remarked that while time could be granted, the court must also consider what might happen if action were taken against the petitioner in the meantime. Justice Kalhoro questioned how any potential harm could later be rectified if the order were eventually overturned, and who would then be responsible for the damage caused. He observed that a person’s lifelong efforts were at stake in the matter. He asked whether the affected party had been issued a notice before the decision on the degree was made.

On this, the Karachi University registrar replied that he was recently appointed to the post and therefore did not have knowledge of the details. Justice Kalhoro responded firmly, saying that if the registrar had appeared before the court, he was obliged to provide answers. The judge further remarked that it was possible the action against the petitioner had been motivated by personal interest. The SHC judge stressed that if a matter is raised thirty or thirty-five years later, the concerned individual must be given a fair opportunity to be heard.

He added that judicial decisions delivered without hearing both parties carry little weight, and an ex parte judgement is never regarded as a sound judgement. Later, the court suspended Karachi University’s decision to revoke Justice Jahangiri’s degree and barred any further action based on the recommendations of the Syndicate and the Unfair Means Committee of the university. The hearing was adjourned until November 20.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)