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Information ministry moves Pemra against broadcast of Bol

Mateen Haider | Dawn.com Published May 28, 2015
The logos of Pakistani software company Axact and its newly launched TV Channel Bol are seen in Karachi, Pakistan, May 27, 2015. — Reuters
The logos of Pakistani software company Axact and its newly launched TV Channel Bol are seen in Karachi, Pakistan, May 27, 2015. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The federal information ministry wrote a letter to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Thursday, asking it not to broadcast BOL TV channel till completion of investigation into the degree scam by Axact — the parent company of the upcoming television and newspaper group.

"A letter has been sent to Pemra to stop Bol's transmission on a temporary basis," Federal Information Secretary Muhammad Azam told DawnNews via telephone.

A detailed NYT report titled "Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions" and written by New York Times Pakistan bureau chief Declan Walsh had outlined how Axact — referred to as a "secretive Pakistani software company" — allegedly earned millions of dollars from scams involving fake degrees, non-existent online universities and manipulation of customers.

According to the report, Axact created a series of fake websites involving “professors” and students who it said were in fact paid actors.

On Wednesday, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against seven individuals including Axact director and CEO Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh as well as a UAE-based company.

Take a look: FIR registered against Axact CEO, six others in fake degree scam

The individuals named in the FIR were subsequently arrested and are in FIA remand until June 7.

The arrests came after an FIA raid on the Axact office on Khayaban-e-Ittehad, where officials said a large number of university degrees and student identification cards were recovered.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had earlier assured that the ministry will not bear pressure from any individual regarding investigation of the Axact scandal. He added that the investigation will be fair and transparent in this regard.

Know more: Nisar vows transparent investigation of Axact fake degree scam

Earlier on Monday, the Interior Ministry of Pakistan along with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) wrote a letter to the US agency Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seeking legal assistance to further probe into the Axact fake degree scam.

Read more: Pakistan seeks FBI assistance to probe Axact scam

Read more

On DawnNews
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Comments (37) Closed
Zahid
May 28, 2015 04:46pm
Shutting down BOL has been the aim....If the govt is really fair, hardly any channel should be on Air....I wish and pary that BOL goes on air...
Recommend 0
M Jamal
May 28, 2015 04:48pm
It seem the whole drama was to stop the transmission of BOL TV channel as it has hired the big names of media industry. The entire media of Pakistan is now happy.
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Threatning
May 28, 2015 04:48pm
Ordinary Pakistani can only dream of getting justice at such pace. Double standards!!!!
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Umair Babar
May 28, 2015 04:53pm
Why is Bol stopped? this is so bias. Degrees businesses 10-20% of axact's business. they have 9 other business. They can easily say that we financed bol through other businesses. It is getting clear that the whole dram around axact was for bol..
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LawaTimes.com
May 28, 2015 04:54pm
The real target is BOL, not Axact and they are pulling strings to nail it down through government of the day.
Recommend 0
Umar
May 28, 2015 05:00pm
Why stop Bol transmission? What has bol got to do with axact if it is a separate legal entity, and has not been involved with transactions made by axact? Axact was sponsoring this company, and one of the shareholders, will we do the same if a major shareholder of a company so convicted? This is just their ill intentions, and I hope justice would be done, but won't be surprised if it isn't.
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IFTIKHAR KHAN
May 28, 2015 05:09pm
Pace of justice is an indication that no big gun was behind this business group.
Recommend 0
Zibbi
May 28, 2015 05:15pm
Mission Accomplished... Who cares about fake degrees when our leaders are known to have them and sit in assemblies!
Recommend 0
Captain Hindsight
May 28, 2015 05:35pm
I wonder why Pakistani people are defending Axact and condemning action against the company. Perhaps bringing fake degree related defamation to the country's name is not much of a crime/corruption in common man's opinion.
Recommend 0
mohsin
May 28, 2015 05:51pm
Finally this is what govt wants, they whole drama is to shut BOL thats it.
Recommend 0
SABER
May 28, 2015 06:22pm
Seems BOL cause some threats to someone....guess who..
Recommend 0
Jawad U Rahman
May 28, 2015 06:27pm
How will Bol launch anyways without the Axact financing? Their business model is not sustainable. Without serious new capital, Bol will die its own natural death. The government does not have to be part of it.
Recommend 0
Jawad U Rahman
May 28, 2015 06:29pm
Only Axact and its founders are responsible for this fiasco with Bol. They put the professional lives of so many people on the line to satisfy their own limitless greed for money and power.
Recommend 0
S. Lalani
May 28, 2015 06:41pm
Good decision. FBR should also probe whether the highly paid anchorpersons hired by BOL have paid their taxes.
Recommend 0
Talha
May 28, 2015 06:45pm
I am no fan of Bol but this move by the Information Ministry seems to be the main reason for all the hullabaloo behind the recent scandal, probably done to please some of the other powerful media houses. The Axact guys deserve punishment if they are proven guilty but isn't it like punishing them before a court of law actually announces the verdict? This smells fishy but there is no denying that they deserve punishment according to the law if they are found guilty.
Recommend 0
Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali
May 28, 2015 06:56pm
Fake degree as reported by the press and the law enforcement is out of characterization. There are thousands od on-line college degree companies very similar to Axact all over the world. The degrees are issued after completion of requirement which is tailored according to the on-line university, ( blank degrees found were to be used for this purpose ) & the candidate has completed the requirement. Some are good and acceptable and rest are piece of paper. Police and press have been very irresponsible dealing with this case. My guess is that this is targeted action to damage the BOL TV.
Recommend 0
raja amer khan
May 28, 2015 06:57pm
Why is everyone defending BOL? If Axact is guilty then obviously BOL is an illegal channel because it's financed by that money. I think it should be stopped from airing until the verdict.
Recommend 0
Arslan
May 28, 2015 07:23pm
What about GEO news? Destroying BOL was the main aim.
Recommend 0
Pran Joshi
May 28, 2015 07:47pm
@SABER Long live Conspiracy theories...they will solve all the problems.
Recommend 0
Danish Anjum
May 28, 2015 07:52pm
Here you go.. Coming to the point.
Recommend 0
Aziz
May 28, 2015 07:59pm
....And the cat comes out of the bag
Recommend 0
Zia
May 28, 2015 08:06pm
Most of the comments here trying to drum up conspiracy theories make me sick. Have we really gone down that much where we are trying to defend this business? Should any media outlet or business owned by an alleged criminal be allowed to function. What is really sad is to see here is the viewpoint that what this company was doing is not all that bad ... by Pakistani standards!
Recommend 0
AHMAD
May 28, 2015 08:37pm
O so that was all about - Not surprised :)
Recommend 0
bkt
May 28, 2015 09:16pm
@Umair Babar > The problem is that they don't make any money from their "other" businesses. BOL cans till do business and someone else can buy it either outright or in partnership. The case is still developing but committing fraud on a global scale is a crime even in Pakistan as it undermines the legitimacy of everything.
Recommend 0
Iqbal Burcha Hunzai
May 28, 2015 09:29pm
At last Media houses owners succeeded to stop BOL. Thumbs down to pseudo political leadership.
Recommend 0
Karachi
May 28, 2015 10:15pm
the main goal is just to stop airing BoL network
Recommend 0
tariq
May 28, 2015 10:27pm
All current channels are afraid of BOL and want to stop it
Recommend 0
Shahpur
May 28, 2015 11:02pm
Very interesting story. I hope something good comes out of all this, for people of Pakistan. It is complicated story.
Recommend 0
mike USA
May 28, 2015 11:45pm
Fake degree scam is one thing & media control is another! Why...Unless some anti state activity or serious Pemra rule violations.
Recommend 0
Mir Sohail Bangulzai
May 29, 2015 12:02am
Well now it seems like all this propaganda was staged to downgrade the upcoming channel (Bol).Anyhow,truth must prevail !!
Recommend 0
Mansoor Khan
May 29, 2015 02:02am
Big names from BOL gone, if Axact fake degree issue resolve may be BOL can go on air. Let's hope. My support is with BOL.
Recommend 0
Last comment
May 29, 2015 02:22am
Govt still living in 80s and 90s
Recommend 0
Lucky Star
May 29, 2015 03:30am
@Zahid It is already on the air , it should go of the air.
Recommend 0
Pragmatic
May 29, 2015 03:31am
Mission accomplished! Very well done!
Recommend 0
Jonathan
May 29, 2015 03:37am
It looks like 20 former Axact employees have taken over the comments. Sorry guys, you can't fool people with the same tired line. Just to be clear: 1. There are not thousands of companies doing what Axact has been doing. There are none in the US - who pretend to have hundreds of fake universities, make fake videos, extort people, run a staff of hundreds, etc. 2. Axact is a vast criminal enterprise - money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, conspiracy, harrassment, bank fraud, wire fraud, etc. Much more than just a diploma mill. 3. Bol money is Axact money, stolen from people all over the world. There is no way it can proceed.
Recommend 0
Mustafa
May 29, 2015 05:28am
Now that Bol is shutdown, the mission is accomplished. Govt will now be thinking to let go the case against Axact, may be after some kickbacks.
Recommend 0
Tunte Matin
May 29, 2015 06:04am
The next BCCI if anyone remember
Recommend 0

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