The Supreme Court on Thursday granted a month to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to transfer computer data and carry out forensic audit of Axact Private Limited, allegedly involved in issuing fake educational degrees. A two-member bench of the Justice Gulzar Ahmed resumed the hearing of a petition of M/s Axact Private Limited, challenging the freezing of the company accounts and vires of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010.
The bench also issued directives to the FIA to vacate offices of Axact Private Limited in a month after completing its assignment and submit compliance report. Besides, the court said in its short order that till the final adjudication of a case against the petitioner in the court of Additional District Sessions Judge Karachi court shall pass an adverse order against the petitioner.
The court also granted time to Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sajid Ilyas Bhatti to file a report in the matter saying "The DAG is directed to file all relevant documents that there is reasonable connection of the petitioner's bank accounts with the alleged crime within a period of two weeks".
Appearing on behalf of M/s Axact Private Limited, Abid S Zuberi pleaded that the FIA has completely taken over his client's offices and its employees were not allowed to enter there; to which, the bench asked the inquiry officer of the Agency to avoid making the Axact offices as residential places and ensure completion of the investigation in the matter in a month. Sajid Ilyas Bhatti submitted that the whole account of the company has a connection with the crime whereas investigation officer of the FIA requested for three months' time to complete the process of transferring computer data, forensic audit. The hearing of matter was adjourned for two weeks.