Story Highlights
Axact Scandal
Scam of fake degrees, unveiled by New York Times report, remained the top story this week. On Wednesday Axact Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and four of his associates were sent on physical remand. Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency had launched an FIR and arrested Shaikh Tuesday night after they confiscated thousands of fake degrees and student identity cards from a secret office of the company in Karachi. Sections related to money laundering and cyber crime were also incorporated in the FIR.
According to reports, FIA officials seized two containers of fake degrees from the Axact offices during raids. Pakistan has also approached US authorities for help in this case. According to reports, the interior ministry wrote to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seeking assistance in investigation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information has written a letter to Pemra requesting it to stop Axact’s TV channel Bol’s transmission until the completion of investigations against the company. Axact’s CEO Shaikh, who has denied all allegations, released a series of videotaped ‘appeals’ to the public to stand against the crackdown on Axact, which he claimed is a conspiracy against the company.
A New York Times article had revealed that Axact had run a global network of fake online universities that manipulated customers and generated tens of millions of dollars annually by selling fake degrees.
Daska Killings
Lawyers took out to the streets across Punjab over killing of their two colleagues at the hands of a police officer in Sialkot’s Daska tehsil on Monday. The incident occurred when officials of Daska Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) along with SHO of Daska City Police Station were conducting an anti-encroachment operation in the city when residents and lawyers staged a protest, demanding more time from authorities. The situation turned ugly when shots were allegedly fired by the police officer, which severely injured the bar association president and another lawyer who later succumbed to their injuries. After the incident, angry lawyers and locals took out to the streets and set ablaze several government offices and damaged public property in the city.
The protests continued the second day as lawyers staged rallies in various cities of Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala. In Lahore, a contingent of Rangers was deployed as lawyers turned violent and tried to break through the gate of Punjab Assembly and set a security picket on fire. In Faisalabad and Gujranwala several rallies were held and the protesters chanted slogans against police. In Sialkot Police fired tear gas as protesters hurled stones at the DPO office.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered a transparent and quick probe into the incident while Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the death of two lawyers and ordered action against the responsible.
War Against Terror
Matters related to security and strategies against terrorism remained the top issues in the country. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday chaired a meeting, with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and DG ISI Lt General Rizwan Akhtar in attendance, at the PM House to discuss security situation. The meeting reviewed progress on operation Zarb-e-Azb and national action plan (NAP). Meanwhile NATO commander, General John F Campbell has hinted at the presence of ISIS terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In a statement, he claimed that ISIS is now recruiting fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan, however, they are not yet operational in the region.
Meanwhile Pakistan has also reacted strongly to the statement of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement. The Indian defence minister, in a television show, had said that India have to use terrorism to counter terrorism from Pakistan. In its reaction, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said sponsoring terrorism to counter terrorism confirms Pakistan’s assertions of Indian involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. He said that Indian defence minister’s statement is open and blatant admission of sponsoring terrorism. Foreign office spokesman also said that such remarks of Indian defence minister should not only be a matter of concern for Pakistan but also for other countries.
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