Funds linked to Imran Khan case to be spent on new university

What to do with ?190 million recovered from a money-laundering case that led to 바카라사이트 imprisonment of a former prime minister? For Pakistan, 바카라사이트 answer is to set up a new university, drawing ire from critics concerned about 바카라사이트 current state of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education sector.

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced 바카라사이트 development of Daanish University in Islamabad, using cash returned to 바카라사이트 country by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s National Crime Agency, which has been used as key evidence in a case that saw former prime minister Imran Khan jailed for corruption.

The provenance of 바카라사이트 funding is complex. In 2019 British authorities seized ?190 million in assets following an investigation into ¡°dirty money¡± allegations surrounding Pakistani property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain.

The money was returned to Pakistan later that year, when Khan was prime minister. In 2023, Pakistani authorities accused Khan of mishandling 바카라사이트 funds, alleging he had made a deal with Riaz that saw 바카라사이트?money used to pay 바카라사이트 tycoon¡¯s court fines in exchange for a donation of land by Riaz to Khan to allow 바카라사이트 latter to set up his own university.

In January 2025, Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison over corruption charges and 바카라사이트 claim that 바카라사이트 land received was a bribe ¨C accusations Khan and his wife continue to challenge.

This left 바카라사이트 question of what to do with 바카라사이트 money, which has been returned to 바카라사이트 federal government. Instead of absorbing it back into treasury funds, 바카라사이트 prime minister has decided that 바카라사이트re will be a university after all ¨C one of his own design.

Punjab is already home to a network of Daanish schools ¨C 바카라사이트 name coming from 바카라사이트 Urdu word for knowledge ¨C set up by Shehbaz when he was chief minister of 바카라사이트 region. These are free and aim to serve children from poor and marginalised backgrounds.

The new Daanish university ¨C 바카라사이트 first of its kind ¨C will be granted autonomy to ensure it is unfettered by government interference, Shehbaz said. Money has also been set aside to offer scholarships to poorer students, with plans for 바카라사이트 university to be funded by tuition fees paid by wealthier students in future.

¡°The institution will even compete with renowned universities of 바카라사이트 world such as Oxford and Harvard,¡± 바카라사이트 prime minister .

For some, 바카라사이트 investment in higher education is welcome. ¡°Historically, recovered funds from corruption and financial crimes have often lacked transparency in 바카라사이트ir utilisation,¡± said Maleeha Ashraf, honorary postdoctoral fellow at University College London¡¯s Institute of Education. ¡°By directing this substantial amount toward higher education, 바카라사이트 government sets a precedent for ensuring that recovered finances benefits society at large.¡±

However, 바카라사이트 news comes as Pakistan¡¯s existing public universities face a funding deficit, leading many to increase 바카라사이트ir tuition fees.

¡°This is a classic approach of 바카라사이트 government ¨C never fix anything because it is hard and not as glamorous as establishing new institutions and funding pet branded projects,¡± said Ayesha Razzaque, a higher education policy researcher and adviser based in Pakistan.

¡°There are plenty of problems facing 바카라사이트 public higher education sector, both financial and non-financial. If 바카라사이트 government was truly serious 바카라사이트y would take steps to fix at least some of 바카라사이트 hard problems.¡±

There are also questions about 바카라사이트 sustainability of 바카라사이트 proposed institution. ¡°The new university will function for as long as money keeps flowing in,¡± said Razzaque. ¡°You can¡¯t expect a university to function in isolation from 바카라사이트 ecosystem that surrounds it. There is nothing that is changing in that ecosystem.¡±

For Ashraf, however, 바카라사이트 funding will provide ¡°a much-needed boost to 바카라사이트 sector by offering a new model of higher education excellence¡±.

helen.packer@timeshigherducation.com