ISLAMABAD: A law officer of the federal government requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday to order retrial of Axact chief executive officer Shoaib Sheikh and other officials of the company in the fake degrees case because they had been acquitted by a district and session judge after receiving bribe.

During the hearing of an appeal filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the acquittal of the Axact chief and others, Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid Mehmood Khan said despite admission of additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Pervaizul Qadir Memon that he had taken bribe for passing a favourable verdict, the judgement was still intact.

Besides Axact, Mr Sheikh also owns Bol TV network.

ADSJ Memon had acquitted Mr Sheikh and others in the fake degrees case on Oct 31, 2016. Later the judge was sacked on Feb 15, 2018 due to his admission of receiving Rs5 million bribe for acquitting the accused.

The court adjourned hearing till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2018