In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday, the University of Karachi (KU) syndicate cancelled the degree and enrolment of a candidate, purportedly identified as Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of the Islamabad High Court, based on recommendations from its Unfair Means (UFM) Committee. The decision was made hours after the detention of Dr. Riaz Ahmed, an academic and syndicate member, who alleged that his detention was part of a pre-planned plot to prevent his participation in the crucial meeting.
Dr. Riaz, an associate professor at KU’s Department of Applied Chemistry, claimed he was forcibly detained by police from Tipu Sultan Road at around 1pm while en route to the university. He asserted that the detention was a deliberate attempt to thwart his objections to the agenda item concerning the judge’s degree—a matter that had surfaced publicly over two months ago.
Dr. Riaz was held for approximately eight hours at multiple police stations before being released in the evening, following the syndicate’s decision to cancel the degree. During his detention, he reported being taken to Jamshed Quarters police station and later to Bahadurabad and Brigade police stations, where his wife Sophia eventually secured his release.
The KU syndicate meeting proceeded in Dr. Riaz’s absence and approved the UFM Committee’s recommendations to cancel the degree and enrolment cards of candidates found guilty of unethical practices. The official KU press release did not specify the candidate’s identity, but Dr. Riaz’s statement linked the case to Justice Jahangiri.
A letter circulated on social media two months ago highlighted discrepancies in the degree records of Justice Jahangiri, but did not explicitly declare the degree invalid. The letter noted inconsistencies in enrolment numbers and transcripts but refrained from labeling the degree as bogus.
Justice Jahangiri, one of the judges who previously accused the Inter-Services Intelligence of interference in judicial affairs and reported irregularities involving spy cameras, has been embroiled in this controversy.
Dr. Riaz’s claims of a coordinated effort to prevent his involvement in the meeting have raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the university’s decision-making process. Neither KU Vice Chancellor Dr. Khalid Iraqi nor other university officials were immediately available for comment, leaving the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and government agency involvement unverified.
The unfolding situation continues to attract attention from rights activists and the media, highlighting concerns over the integrity of institutional decisions and potential political influences.
