Pakistan to build university from £190m ‘corruption money’ sent by UK’s National Crime Agency

Dubai: Pakistan has announced to build a new university with the money recovered in a corruption against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced establishing ‘Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences’ in Islamabad by utilising £190 million amount that was transferred from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s account.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were accused of receiving land as a bribe from a real estate tycoon through the Al-Qadir Trust, which the couple had set up while he was in office. In exchange, investigators said earlier, Khan used £190m ($232m) repatriated by the UK’s National Crime Agency to pay the tycoon’s court fines. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had returned £190 million to Pakistan, which were later transferred from the Pakistan Supreme Court to the federal government’s account.

‘Corruption case’

Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were convicted in £190m case in January this year. Accountability Court handed down a 14-year sentence to the PTI founder and a seven-year sentence to his wife, while also slapping heavy fines on them.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz, while chairing the Steering Committee meeting for the establishment of Daanish University, expressed his gratitude to the chief justice of Pakistan for ensuring the smooth transfer of the £190 million to the federal government account, APP reported.

Chairing the meeting, the prime minister highlighted that the university would be an institution where deserving and talented students will receive high-quality research-based education.

Legal formalities

He directed the early completion of legal formalities for acquiring land in Islamabad for the university.

The prime minister also instructed the swift finalisation of the university’s charter and other legal matters. Furthermore, he also emphasised that the university should be developed as an international-standard technical and applied sciences university.

He further directed that the university’s architecture should reflect simplicity, with buildings constructed using red bricks and avoiding unnecessary expenditures to minimise costs.

He also instructed to recruit highly qualified faculty and teachers for the university, which would be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and advanced research facilities.

Curriculum

The university’s curriculum should be prepared as per the international standards. He further directed to form a committee for the appointment of the vice-chancellor and a committee for nominating the board of trustees

During the meeting, a briefing was given on Daanish University and Daanish Schools and it was highlighted that the prime minister would be the patron of Daanish University, which will be registered as a Section 42 company, with all necessary formalities to be completed within a few days.

The university’s land has been selected in Sector H-16. Daanish University will operate under the Daanish Trust to ensure financial independence and minimal government intervention.