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KARACHI:
The Federal Investigation Agency’s forensic experts from Lahore, Islamabad
and Quetta visited Axact headquarters in the upscale Defence neighbourhood
of Karachi on Thursday to expedite the ongoing investigation into the software
company.
The probe was ordered by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar after a New York
Times exposé claimed that Axact was running a “fake education empire”.
For two consecutive days after the special report’s publication, FIA teams raided
the company’s head office in Karachi and regional offices in the twin-cities of
Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Thursday wasn’t any different for Axact’s Karachi staff, as the investigators’
comings and goings were quite difficult to keep track of.
The FIA team also confiscated educational degrees, diplomas and certificates, as
well as stamp machines from Axact’s office. On FIA Sindh Director Shahid
Hayat’s directives, many senior officials, including Ashfaq Alam Khan, Altaf
Hussain and Mohammad Ali Abro, are participating in the investigation to
complete it at the earliest.
Axact-gate scandal: FIA’s forensic experts called
in
Sources said the investigators have seized some of the hardware and computers
from the head office, and recorded statements of top officials of different
departments.
The FIA’s major focus on Thursday was on Axact’s well-known call centre.
However, the investigators also continued to concentrate on the company’s IT
department.
It is believed that the students outside Pakistan were being contacted through
the call centres. The investigation teams hope to obtain solid proof of Axact’s
involvement in the illegal business.
CEO no-show
Despite being issued notices, Axact CEO Shoaib Sheikh didn’t appear before the
FIA on Thursday, following which another notice was issued to him, directing
him to appear before the investigators within 48 hours.
The officials said the court would be involved if Sheikh failed to respond to the
notice.
Low attendance
Ever since the FIA has started visiting Axact headquarters, the attendance of the
company’s employees has been low. Sources said the attendance was lower on
Thursday, adding that routine work at the company has been suspended since
the investigation was launched.
Axact-gate scandal: FIA’s forensic experts called
in
The employees that do go to work appear to be afraid of facing the journalists
camped outside the head office. Every employee tries to leave the premises
discreetly.
“I don’t think the senior employees will resume their jobs,” an employee
conjectured. He said every member of the staff, from top to bottom, felt insecure
in the present circumstances. “How can an employee face the FIA’s questions
and the media’s cameras?”
In a major twist to the fake degree scam, UAE daily Khaleej Times has found out
that Axact’s offices in Dubai have remained closed for more than two years.
“Nobody has visited this office in the last two years and it hasn’t been opened
even once,” said a security guard working at a business centre leased by Axact.
“The owner is never here, but we do receive a few couriers occasionally.”