Here’s a shocking revelation that’s bound to stir up debate: Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, whose appointment was recently invalidated by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), had reportedly planned to step down next month just as he became eligible for a lifetime pension. But here’s where it gets controversial—was this a calculated move to secure benefits, or simply a coincidence? Let’s dive into the details.
According to informed sources speaking to The News, Justice Jahangiri intended to retire in early January 2026, precisely when his five-year tenure as a high court judge would have qualified him for a pension. This timeline wasn’t just a coincidence—members of the legal community had been quietly pushing for his retirement at this exact moment. And this is the part most people miss: under Pakistani law, judges who leave office before completing five years of service forfeit all pensionary benefits. So, was Justice Jahangiri’s plan a strategic play to avoid losing out?
Bar members reportedly approached Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, assuring him that Justice Jahangiri would resign on January 1, 2026, the day he became eligible for his pension. There were even whispers that the judge had submitted a post-dated resignation to the minister, though neither party confirmed this when contacted by the publication. Is this a case of gaming the system, or just a judge exercising his rights?
The plot thickened when the IHC ruled that Justice Jahangiri was unqualified to serve as a judge due to a controversy surrounding his LLB degree, which had been canceled by the University of Karachi. This decision abruptly ended his judicial career, leaving his pension plans in limbo. The verdict was delivered by a two-member bench led by IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan, adding another layer of drama to the saga.
Here’s the bigger question: Does the timing of Justice Jahangiri’s planned resignation raise ethical concerns, or is it simply a matter of following the rules? And what does this say about the broader issues of judicial appointments and pension policies in Pakistan? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
