Nisar says Axact may face more cases

Interior ministry to contact FBI to provide legal assistance

RAWALPINDI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar on Friday held out the possibility of filing more cases against Axact — which is already implicated in the massive diploma mills scam — if fresh evidence is found against the software company.

“We will carry out a full investigation ... the interior ministry will be contacting the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide legal assistance to FIA for carrying out an investigation against Axact,” Nisar told a public meeting at Chak Beli Khan.

Regarding investigations against the company, he said the FIA has written letters to the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) to apprise them on the matter.

Based on emergence of fresh evidence, the minister said, more FIRs can be filed against Axact. A letter has been sent to the British government and another will follow to the UAE for assistance in the Axact probe.

Bol given licence in haste

Axact’s media affiliate and partner organisation Bol TV obtained its licence in a shady manner when the interim government was in power for two months prior to the 2013 general elections. “Bol TV was issued a licence in only two days without any clearance and in total disregard of laid out rules and regulations,” Nisar said.

Fighting terrorism

The PML-N government has drawn up a unanimous policy against terrorism and the neighbouring country’s defence minister’s statement showed who is behind terrorism in Pakistan, he said.

The interior minister said that there was no difference of opinion among political parties over national security matters. “We will uproot terrorism. The terrorists are already cornered in the mountains,” he said.

Nisar said that Zarb-e-Azb and operations in Karachi, Quetta and other parts of the country were progressing. “It will take time to restore peace,” he said.

Later talking to media, Nisar denied any difference with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He regretted that the media had published an “unverified report” about his meeting with the prime minister. He criticised PTI for levelling allegations of rigging in the 2103 general elections, saying that the election were held by the caretaker government, PTI should address their own party affairs after publication of Justice (retd) Wajihuddin’s report on party election.

He pointed out that the modus operandi for progress in the Imran Farooq murder case had been agreed with the British government. Some headway is expected in the coming days.

Issues regarding the case, particularly about handing over of suspect Moazzam Ali, have been settled with the British government, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2015.