Axact fake degree case

Shoaib Sheikh’s acquittal set aside

By Our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Axact Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh would face the trial afresh alongside other accused persons in fake degree scandal as an Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench has set aside the October 31, 2016 acquittal order passed by a sacked judge, due to pecuniary interests of the judge.

IHC division bench here on Wednesday announced the reserved judgment setting aside the judgment of sacked additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Pervezul Qadir Memon who on October 31, 2016 had acquitted 27 ‘Axact’ fake degree scandal accused.

IHC division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb in the 16 pages’ judgment said that ‘we declare that the impugned judgment is vitiated on the sole ground of the pecuniary interest of the presiding judge against whom the charge of accepting illegal gratification stands established’.

IHC bench allowed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s appeal for fresh trial and directed Session Judge (West) Islamabad to conduct fresh trial in this matter after hearing the parties. IHC bench further directed that the accused persons were on bail and their bails shall remain intact after furnishing fresh surety bonds to the satisfaction of the court.

In this case, Syed Hamid Ali Shah advocate represented FIA while Dr Babar Awan, Raja Rizwan Abbasi and Haroon Rashid advocates represented Axact. An ADSJ Memon on October 31, 2016 had acquitted the Axact officials from the fake degree scandal and later the judge on February 15, 2018 was sacked due to his admission of receiving Rs5 million bribe for acquitting the accused persons. ADSJ Memon had made this confession before IHC departmental promotion committee comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.

In the present appeal, FIA through its deputy director Cyber Crime Circle in February, 2017 had gave arguments against the acquittal of 27 officials of the Axact Company. FIA had nominated Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Axact Shoaib Sheikh, his wife Ayesha Shoaib and 25 others as respondents.