Al-Qadir University – hopes and fears

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The Al-Qadir Trust case or the £190 million case against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan dominated the local as well as international media scene for more than two years.

The trial in the case concluded on Friday in the conviction of Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi with jail terms and fines. In addition to that the Islamabad Accountability Court ordered the nationalisation of the Al-Qadir University.

Founded in 2019, the university is run by the Al-Qadir Trust in which both Imran and Bibi are the trustees. The former prime minister was the chairman of the board of trustees, while Bibi was a member. The teaching started with 30 students in 2021.

The university, sprawling over 458 kanals or around 57 acres, is located in the on the GT Road in Sohawa Tehsil of Jhelum district, approximately 85 kilometres from Islamabad. According to BBC report, it is nestled in the foothills, with no significant surrounding population.

A BBC reporter, who visited the university, reported that at present over 200 students were enrolled, studying Management Sciences and Islamic Studies, which also combined spirituality. The report added that most of the students come from remote areas studying on scholarships, receiving free education.