Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the establishment of a university using 190 million pounds, an amount recovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency in 2019 from a Pakistani property tycoon through an out-of-court settlement.
The funds were later transferred to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s account, preventing the government from utilizing them.
However, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has stated that this money belongs to the people of Pakistan and can be used for public welfare as the government sees fit, according to the premier during a meeting.
The Daanish University, an extension of the Daanish schools project, will be established with the recovered funds.
The prime minister assured to make it a top-tier institution specializing in applied sciences, with renowned teachers, researchers, and scholars being invited to contribute.
He emphasized that the university would play a key role in shaping the future of Pakistan’s youth.
Discussing the 190 million pound case, he alleged that the amount was deliberately transferred to an unrelated account instead of the national exchequer due to dishonest motives.
Earlier this year, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Al-Qadir Trust case, now known as the 190 million pound case. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was also sentenced to seven years in jail for her involvement.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Nasir Javed Rana in a makeshift courtroom at Adiala Jail, along with fines of Rs1 million for Imran Khan and Rs500,000 for Bushra Bibi.