Following the conviction of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-first lady Bushra Bibi in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust University case, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Friday that the university is now under her administration and that scholarships will be provided to its students.
Addressing an event for the Honhaar Scholarship Programme at the University of Okara, CM Maryam stated, “The accountability court has transferred control of the university to the government following the verdict in the £190 million case.” Earlier in the day, the court sentenced PTI founder Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years, along with imposing heavy fines.
Read more: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi Convicted in £190 Million Al-Qadir Trust Case
The court found the former prime minister guilty of “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority,” while the former first lady was convicted for “involvement in illegal activities.” The judge also directed that custody of Al-Qadir Trust University be handed over to the federal government, headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, CM Maryam’s uncle.
The Al-Qadir Trust case, also known as the £190 million case, involved allegations that Khan and other accused misappropriated Rs50 billion (equivalent to £190 million at the time) returned to Pakistan by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2019 during his tenure as prime minister.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the court’s decision proved corruption in the case, stating, “Imran Khan is the first former prime minister to be caught red-handed committing corruption.” She further remarked on a video where students invited her to visit the university, promising religious and conventional education opportunities, scholarships, and laptops for students.
Read more: PTI Chairman Confirms Meeting with COAS Munir
“I aim to empower our children with education and scholarships, not with petrol bombs. Those who were handed petrol bombs are now in jail, having been encouraged to attack police and blindly follow social media content,” she said, referring to PTI protesters arrested after violent incidents on May 9, 2023, and November 26 last year.
Maryam Nawaz, a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), called for unity and peace over hatred and chaos, urging students to contribute to the province’s progress. “Your energy is my core strength. I rely on your dedication to drive development in this province,” she concluded.