Pakistan has to bring Axact culprits to book to redeem its integrity

Islamabad
Already confronting the menace of terrorism and ironically facing allegations from some quarters of harbouring terrorists and extremists, the ‘Axact’ scam, as reported by the new York Times, has put Pakistan’s integrity at stake through ‘educational terrorism’. This has left Pakistan with no other option except to take stern action against the protagonist and his accomplices in the scam and hold fair and transparent investigation into the scam to salvage its image.
‘Axact’ saga is the result of an individual’s fraudulent maneuverings but Pakistan is facing a barrage of criticism from all over the world only because the mastermind of this ‘diploma mill’ hails from Pakistan, a top officer of the Interior Ministry said. ‘Axact scam’ has added fuel to fire of propaganda and ire against Pakistan and we are left with no other option than to make a through probe into the scam and take it to its logical end.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has a very good track record of transparency and fairness in managing political as well as administrative affairs. He has ordered Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe into the ‘Axact’ scam. In view of the fact that the scam may involve nationals of many other countries, the minister also decided to take onboard foreign investigative agencies of UK and US and seek assistance from them at official level.
FIA is leading investigation process with assistance of other related departments including Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Income Tax, Customs, Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Bank and IT Export Association. Interior Minister Ch. Nisar is personally overseeing the investigation.
In a rebuff to foreign media that has questioned the efficiency of Pakistan government that it has been unaware of the Axact network, the interior minister said that ‘Axact’ was awarding fake degrees to the citizens of US, UK and other countries of the world and it was the responsibility of the governments of those countries to keep check over it.
Legal experts in US are of the view that U.S authorities will pursue ‘Axact’ scam under laws and sections relating to postal fraud and money laundering. However they have pointed out that any action would depend on fair and transparent investigations conducted in Pakistan. Thus a big responsibility has been put on the shoulders of Pakistan. On its own part the interior ministry should take pains to clarify to all those concerned that Pakistan has nothing to do with the fraudulent tactics of an individual and his ‘diploma mill’.
Experts of ‘Distance Education’ have stated that with the emergence of Internet, distance education has got maximised importance and with its popularity, elements also get involved in establishing their networks to provide education at the doorstep. That is how some corrupt elements also became part of this business, just as appears from Axact scam that exploited the opportunity and set up a diploma-mill of fake educational institutions and fake degrees.
Investigations are in progress while rumour mills are churning out shocking revelations day in and day out. Much is talked about Axact sponsored media Group ‘BOL’ and the ways of this organisation to evade tax and shield its network through legal aid of stay orders.
The nation expects that in-depth inquiry will be made and culprits will be brought to the book. People are confident that Pakistan will be able to clear its position successfully under the hawk-eyed Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan.