JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 22, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD – Bitter rivals Geo and BOL traded accusations Thursday after news surfaced of an Axact executive being charged by a US court in a fake degree scam.
Geo had a field day, running at least four special packages all targeting BOL and asking questions why the case against Axact was put in cold storage in Pakistan and no one got punished.
BOL in turn did a special program pointing out why Geo and Jang Group boss Mir Shakilur Rehman was not being arrested despite an anti-terrorism court in Gilgit-Baltistan awarding 26-year imprisonment to him in 2014 for running a blasphemous program.
Still in its test transmission phase, BOL asked why the government had not sought Interpol’s help to bring Mir Shakil to Pakistan. The channel also ran a package that showed him as a villain, and warned Is dafa aisay nahin chalay ga, meaning this time (your plan) will not work.
The message had reference to a conspiracy allegedly hatched by the Geo/Jang Group, and a few other heavyweights that prevented BOL from going on air in 2015.
A New York Times story published in May last year claimed Axact was running a fake diploma mill. This led to the arrest of Axact and BOL CEO Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and several of his managers. They languished in jail for 15 months before being released.
Umair Hamid, 30, was charged in a US federal court Wednesday for his part in an alleged $140 million “fake-diploma mill” scheme.
He was charged in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Hamid was arrested Monday according to a statement by Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.
Axact is the parent company of BOL. It is common knowledge the channel’s rivals feel threatened by its financial might and the technological edge it has.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.