Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Friday that Al-Qadir University has now come under her control following the £190m verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Speaking at a ceremony in Okara, the Punjab Chief Minister also announced that scholarships would be given to students from Al-Qadir University, reinforcing her commitment to improving education in the region.
Maryam Nawaz said that the university would now be part of the government’s initiatives focusing on providing scholarships to deserving students.
“The country needs unity, not hatred; it needs peace, not turmoil,” she said, reflecting on the current political climate. She also criticized the previous leadership for fueling violence and unrest, stating: “Youths were encouraged to attack police forces and blindly believe everything they saw on social media.”
Maryam also highlighted the political persecution her family has faced, mentioning that her father, Nawaz Sharif, served the country for 45 years but was ousted over an alleged corruption charge related to an iqama (residency permit). “I was punished for standing by my father,” she said.
“Imran Khan is the first prime minister to be caught red-handed in committing corruption,” Maryam added.
Reflecting on her own time in prison, Maryam Nawaz noted that unlike the current situation of Imran Khan, she and her father had faced difficult circumstances. “When I was imprisoned, I had cameras installed in my cell and I only got one meal a day. It’s good that my weight has come down,” she noted.
The comments came after a court ruling in the £190 million case saw former prime minister Imran Khan jailed for 14 years and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for 7 years.
