A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday authorized the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to physically remand Axact CEO Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh for an additional two days in connection with a Rs1.5 million bribery case that had been filed against him.

On March 9, the FIA detained Shaikh for allegedly paying Rs1.5 million in bribes to former Additional District and Sessions Judge Pervaizul Qadir Memon in order to secure his acquittal in a case involving a fake degree. He had spent the previous three days in the FIA’s custody. After his two-day physical remand was over, the FIA officials presented him to the court for arraignment.

The court accepted the extension request and remanded Shaikh for two more days in police custody for further investigation. At the outset of the hearing today, the investigation officer sought an extension in the Axact CEO remand, maintaining that it was required to complete the probe in the case. The official apprised the court that he has contacted the relevant forum to obtain the details of the suspect’s bank accounts.

The court observed that a clip of a telephonic conversation between the former judge and Tahir Wafai is available with the Islamabad High Court (IHC), adding that the clip could be used as a “connection” with the Axact boss. A letter has been sent to the court for obtaining a copy of the audio tape, the court observed.

Meanwhile, Shaikh’s counsel told the court that his client was suffering from multiple health issues and sought the court’s order to shift Shaikh to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Turning down the request, the court stated that it could not order PIMS to admit Shaikh.

Shaikh had confessed to having carried out a transaction worth Rs1,500,000 to the judge, the court mentioned in its written order, citing the investigation officer.

Meanwhile, the court extended Shaikh’s remand for two more days.

Agencies