ISLAMABAD: The federal information ministry wrote a letter to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), 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, Information ministry said in a statement.

A detailed NYT report titled “Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions”  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.

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.

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.

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.