ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior has suggested constituting a joint inquiry team comprising the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and foreign as well as local forensic science experts to share pertinent information collected to ensure a foolproof investigation into the Axact scandal and to clamp down on those involved in trans-national crimes. This was stateddelinquency, people engaged in investigation of the high-profile case said.The cyber and forensic experts are submitting daily progress report on Axact scam relating to retrieved data from computers and data storage devices that was taken in control from the Axact offices of Karachi and Rawalpindi, the sources said, adding that every data being retrieved from the servers proves the wrongdoings of IT company. Deputy Director Muhammad Usman and Deputy Director Muhammad Naeem were assigned the task on Sunday to file preliminary report as retrieved from evidences and information from computers and server of Axact. Sources in the FIA revealed that scores of computers that were seized from Axact offices have been successfully decoded and as per available information, there are no evidences and information available of the computers that software were designed by Axact or formed by Axact; however scores of specimens of degrees, certificates and cards of various universities were found from the seized computers of the IT company. “As per evidences retrieved from computers and server seized from Axact offices, it has been proven that investigations are heading towards guiltiness in affairs of Axact,” the sources disclosed. Cyber and forensic wings of the FIA were working to collect solid evidences and in this regard preliminary investigation report is being finalised that will be put forward to the higher authorities of the Interior Ministry in first week of June 2015, the sources confirmed. Meanwhile, the FIA sources also revealed that personnel of joint investigation team tasked to probe Axact scam have intimated higher authorities of the FIA and Interior Ministry to ensure assistance from foreign forensic experts to ensure foolproof and flawless examination of data storage devices seized from Axact offices in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi. With the cooperation and assistance of foreign forensic experts it would be easy to examine forensic tests of computers and data storage devices that have been seized from Axact offices and to identify the links that have been searched from these computers and data storage devices. The FIA sources further disclosed that Axact authorities have not yet conveyed response to FIA authorities over notices served to Axact directors. It has also been learnt that Axact has also not yet replied with satisfactory stance. The silence on part of Axact over evidences reported by the New York Times is confirming the status of Axact as ‘diploma mill’. “The people of Axact alleged to be involved in the scam are not cooperating with the investigation agencies to prove their innocence,” the sources said. The sources pinpointed that as per preliminary investigations on Axact scam, a Pandora’s Box of scams has unearthed and to ensure comprehensive investigations over this mega scam, a one-window information sharing cell should be launched to facilitate the departments including crime, forensic, corporate cells of FIA and other departments including FBR, SECP, State Bank and Income Tax who are engaged in probing this multi-billion scam. Reliable sources in the FIA also said that former employees of Axact provided key information and investigations are proceeding in right direction and soon the mystery of Axact will become an open secret and all accomplices in this scam will be clamped down. As per preliminary investigation reports, 4,000 employees of Axact were tasked usually to trap online education seekers from all over the world and each agent and seller of diploma mill was tasked to gain business of $300-400 in a routine day. Online agents of Axact during the course of their working used to provide degrees to their online clients within 15-20 days and charged hundreds of dollars on pretext of attestation of their degrees from different fake universities. On the other side, Interior Department of the British government has confirmed that they have not yet received any letter on part of Pakistan’s Interior Ministry on assistance over ‘Axact’ scam. The authorities have reiterated that British authorities will assist and cooperate with Pakistan to probe this sensitive scam.
