An Axact degree: FIA told to file reply in case against BKU professor

Counsel contends federal agency lacks authority to tackle provincial matters

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency and sought its reply in a case related to the alleged fake degree of a Bacha Khan University professor.

The notice was issued after the professor’s lawyer claimed FIA was humiliating his client in the form of a media trial and claimed the arrest was illegal.

Arguing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Irshad Qaiser, Barrister Amir Chamkani said Fawad Jan was a professor at BKU in Charsadda. “The FIA, on an anonymous complaint, started an investigation against [my client] and alleged the degree [from Paramount University California] was fake,” he stated. It was earlier reported the degree was obtained through the company Axact.

He argued the FIA had no authority to investigate such matters as it was a provincial matter and its relevant institutions would conduct an enquiry into such cases. Chamkani said the FIA’s assistant director, Shahid Ilyas, and investigation officer Asfandyar misused their authority by registering an FIR and arresting his client.

Chamkani said the federal agency could only hold enquiries pertaining to departments falling under the federal government.

The counsel maintained his client obtained a degree from a registered university, but the FIR and subsequent “media trial” affected Jan’s image. He requested the bench to declare the FIR null and void. The bench issued a notice to the FIA after hearing the arguments.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th,  2016.