ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has submitted its report to Islamabad High Court in the ongoing Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri degree controversy.
The report includes Karachi University’s written response, which contains significant revelations.
According to the HEC, the commission has no role in the administrative affairs of universities and does not issue or approve academic degrees. The report states that the current writ petition is purely an internal matter of Karachi University, whose own authorities are responsible for issuing degrees.
The HEC clarified that Justice Tariq’s degree was never presented to the commission for verification, nor is any such application pending. The commission stated it cannot verify a degree that is not recognized by a university or academic institution.
Karachi University’s response details the reasons behind the cancellation of the degree. According to the university, an Unfair Means Committee in 1989 imposed a three-year ban on Tariq Mehmood for cheating and threatening an examiner. Under that decision, he was eligible to appear in exams again only in 1992.
The university alleges that Tariq Mehmood used a fake 1990 enrolment form bearing a forged seal of Government Islamia College to obtain his degree. Two different enrolment numbers were used — 5968/87, originally allotted to another student, and 7184/87, allegedly acquired fraudulently. Multiple mark sheets and degree documents were issued by changing names and enrolment numbers.
The university further stated that upon verification requests in 2024, both enrolment numbers were found invalid. Islamabad High Court later sought confirmation via email, and the university affirmed its earlier findings, also noting that Islamia College records show Tariq Mehmood was never enrolled there between 1984 and 1991.