A storm of criticism erupted across Pakistan’s legal and political landscape on Thursday after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s elevation to the bench was unlawful, effectively ending his tenure as an IHC judge with immediate effect.
The verdict was issued by a division bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, alongside Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, on a petition challenging the legitimacy of Justice Jahangiri’s law degree and judicial appointment. The ruling triggered widespread backlash, with senior politicians, lawyers, and civil rights voices questioning not only the decision itself but also the authority of the bench to hear such a case. Many described the move as an alarming blow to judicial independence and due process.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan termed the decision “unprecedented and deeply troubling,” warning that it weakens the very foundations of judicial autonomy. In a statement on X, he stressed that constitutional guarantees lose meaning when judges cannot safeguard their own positions within the judicial system. Calling for Justice Jahangiri’s immediate restoration, he urged that such removals must come to an end.
Echoing similar concerns, PTI lawyer Naeem Haider Panjhuta argued that under Article 209 of the Constitution, only the Supreme Judicial Council has the authority to remove a high court judge. He alleged that the case against Justice Jahangiri was politically motivated and legally flawed.
Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir described the removal as a dark chapter for the judiciary, saying an “honest and courageous judge” was punished for standing by his oath. She warned that silence from the legal community would only embolden further institutional decay and called on lawyers to take to the streets in protest.
Her remarks were reinforced by lawyer Hadi Ali Chatta, who praised Justice Jahangiri’s integrity and condemned what he called a cowardly attack on the judiciary’s independence. Digital rights activist Usama Khilji also voiced concern, lamenting that Pakistan’s judicial system is being hollowed out piece by piece, questioning how long the public will tolerate such erosion.
Adding to the criticism, Barrister Ahsan J Pirzada challenged the legitimacy of the bench hearing the case, calling the proceedings manufactured and unconstitutional. He warned that such actions risk permanently damaging the credibility of the judicial system.
As debate intensifies, the ruling has reignited broader concerns over judicial autonomy, constitutional safeguards, and the future of institutional integrity in Pakistan.