Fake degrees scam: SHC rejects Axact CEO’s plea for protective bail
ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday threw out a protective bail plea filed by Axact Chairman and CEO Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh in view of the ongoing investigation into the software company’s fake degrees mill.
Arguing before a divisional bench of the SHC – headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh – Additional Attorney General Salman Talibuddin said the bail application was premature as no FIR had been lodged against Shaikh. The federal government has already instructed that unless sufficient evidence is collected against the petitioner, he will not be arrested, he added.
Talibuddin said protective bail was usually granted to an accused nominated in an FIR. In this case, however, no FIR has been lodged as yet against the petitioner. He also dispelled the impression that Axact’s Karachi office had been closed or sealed by the FIA.
In his petition, Shaikh had requested the court grant him protective bail and restrain the FIA from taking any ‘coercive action’ against him. His attorney, Anwar Mansoor Khan, said an American newspaper had published a ‘negative report’ about his client’s company, accusing it of issuing fake diplomas and degrees. Following the publication, he said, FIA authorities initiated an inquiry against his client and took away computers, printers and other instruments from the company’ office crippling its activities.
The lawyer added that the FIA took into custody many Axact employees, therefore, the CEO had to approach the court for getting protective bail. He said the petitioner was ready and willing to cooperate with the FIA in the inquiry and to surrender his original passport with the court.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court observed that Shaikh has admitted FIA officials did not raid his house to arrest him and only asked him to provide some documents as evidence regarding the company’s exports, bank accounts and offshore companies. Subsequently, the bench dismissed the plea observing that it did not carry any merit and was premature as well.
FBI help sought
In a related development, the interior ministry officially sought help from America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the Axact fake degrees scam.
Interior ministry officials said on Monday that a letter has been written to the FBI based on the developments in the scam exposed by New York Times reporter Declan Walsh.
“We’ve dispatched a request today [Monday],” an official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity. “All related documents have also been attached with this letter.”
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has allowed the FIA to seek assistance of foreign experts to probe this scandal.
On May 23, the government had decided to enlist the help of international agencies, including FBI and Interpol, in investigating the scam as well as allegations of money laundering against the software company.
