No country has expressed concern over Axact scandal: FO

Spokesperson says matter is being investigated by the interior ministry

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan claimed on Thursday that no country has expressed concern over the fake degrees scam of software company Axact.

“No country has expressed concern over the scandal,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said.

“The matter is being investigated by the interior ministry,” the spokesperson added.

Read: Fake diplomas, real cash: Pakistani company Axact reaps millions

A New York Times report revealed Axact’s multimillion-dollar fraud unveiling the company ran a fake education empire that involved paid actors promoting fictitious universities and even fake State Department authentication certifications bearing the signature of John Kerry.

Following the report Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take up the case.

Read: FIA returns to Axact HQ as permanent guest

On Tuesday, the FIA raided Axact headquarters in Karachi and the regional offices in the twin-cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Thirty-five employees were detained and several computers and phones confiscated. However, Interior Minister Nisar said no one was detained.

Read: Axact-gate probe: Foreign experts might be called in for help, says Nisar

Further, the government directed the Federal Board of Revenue and the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to provide all relevant information on the company to FIA investigators, Nisar told the media on Wednesday. “I ordered the inquiry into the Axact scandal because the credibility of state institutions is being undermined by such reports.”

A seven-member FIA team has been constituted to probe all corporate matters related to Axact, he said. “The FIA team will ensure transparency in the investigation, which will be concluded as soon as possible.”

‘No Pakistan-Saudi nuclear deal’

Rejecting media reports that Saudi Arabia wants to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan, Khalilullah said, “There is no Pakistan-Saudi nuclear deal.”

“Pakistan’s nuclear programme is purely for its own legitimate self defense and maintenance of credible minimum deterrence.”