3 cases of money-laundering, forged degrees against Axact under trial, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed Tuesday that three FIRs were filed against Axact Pvt Ltd for preparing and selling fake degrees and remittances out of Pakistan.

During the question hour, in reply to a question by Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan of PML-N, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Khanani and Kalia along with the Axact scandal have been investigated by FIA Sindh zone, Karachi and NR3C,( National Response Centre For Cyber Crime) Islamabad.

In a written reply, he said the case FIR No 07/2016 dated 27-05-2015 was registered in FIA CCC Karachi regarding fake degree scandal of M/s Axact against Shoaib Ahmad Siddqiui and others. The investigation officer of the case had already submitted final charge sheet on March 02, 2016 in the court of additional district and sessions judge South Karachi and the case was presently under trial.

Another case FIR No. 51/2015 date 14-10-2015 was registered in FIA, CBC, Karachi regarding remittances out of Pakistan through Hawala to the tune of Rs. 170.17 million against Shoaib Siddiqui in collusion with Exchange Company M/s Chanda and Exchange Company B-(Pvt) Ltd.

Karachi. The final charge sheet was submitted on January 31, 2016 in the court of district and sessions judge, Karachi. Likewise, he noted case FIR NO 56/2015 dated 07-06-2015 was registered in FIA, NR3C, Islamabad against Shoaib Ahmad Sheikh, CEO of M/s Axact Pvt Ltd. and his 27 accomplices for preparing and selling degrees on fake online educational institutions with fake accreditation bodies, enticing innocent people through impersonation as student counselors within Pakistan and abroad. “A challan was submitted in the court and trial court had acquitted 26 accused on October 31, 2016 while appeal against the impugned judgement had been filed in the Islamabad High Court. Lastly, the appeal was fixed on January 22, 2018. Next date in office was given, he said.

The minister said case FIR NO. 76/2008 was registered at FIA, ACC, Karachi on November 15,2008 and final challan was submitted on March 06, 2009 in the court over Khanani and Kalia scam.

In a written reply to a question by PTI Senator Muhammad Azam Swati, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said Pakistan railways currently owned 468 locomotives and 1,820 coaches (wagons). Out of these locomotives, 145 are almost new, have been inducted during 2014-17. He explained 1,248 coaches are operational while 752 non-operational and added during the last four years, there has been a significant increase in the number of locomotives and coaches made operational by fixing them and refurbishing them.

The documents shared with the senators and media revealed that there has been a steady reduction in average rainfall in Islamabad, as it was recorded 1508mm in 2014, 1611mm in 2015, 1136mm in 2016 and 1083mm in 2017.

The MQM’s Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh had asked about average rainfall in Islamabad Capital Territory and whether it is a fact that large quantity of rainwater goes wasted in this region due to insufficient storage. Ahsan Iqbal said sufficient rainwater is stored in Simly and Rawal dams. However, the remaining quantity of rainwater goes wasted due to unavailability of storage structures and dams.

The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb told the House a summary had been moved to the competent authority for approval on data integration of PTV and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation with EOBI.

To another question, she said the amount received from the Power Division under the head of TV fee during the last ten years was: Rs. 2,269 million in 2007-08, Rs. 2,438million in 2008-09, Rs. 2,810million in 2009-10, Rs. 3,968million in 2010-11, Rs. 3,956million in 2011-12, Rs. 4,425million in 2012-13, Rs. 4,765million in 2013-14, Rs. 4,714million in 2014-15, Rs. 6,229 in 2015-16 and Rs. 6,756million in 2016-17. She said there is no mechanism to reconcile the discrepancies and the PTV is entirely dependent on the data provided by PEPCO.

However, the present management, she noted, is working on it and devising a proper mechanism to reconcile the figures with the Power Division to record and pursue the defaulted amounts. “In the light of data provided by PEPCO, DISCOs remit the amount of TV license fee to PTV on monthly basis. However, if there is any difference found in the data of TV license fee and the amount remitted by the DISCOs, PTV pursues the concerned DISCO for the recovery of less remitted amount. The PTV has also started checking the reported defaulted amount.

Starting with this practice, the PTV checked different defaulted cases of IESCO and found that about 300 cases against which the amount of TV fee had been received by IESCO but not remitted to the PTV. The matter has been taken up with IESCO authorities,she said.