Islamabad — Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, has officially applied for the position of chancellor at the University of Oxford in the UK, despite being imprisoned, his close aide announced on Sunday.
Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s leader from 2018 until April 2022
Claims he was ousted through a no-confidence vote in parliament, orchestrated by the country’s powerful military.
On Imran Khan’s instructions, his application for the Oxford University, Chancellor Election 2024 has been submitted,” said Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“We’re looking forward to everyone’s support for this historic campaign,” he added.
Imran Khan, still the most popular politician in Pakistan
Has been in jail since last August, facing various legal battles, including charges of corruption, sedition, and inciting protests against the military. He denies the accusations, calling them baseless and part of a military conspiracy.
Although his previous convictions were overturned or suspended due to lack of evidence, Khan remains imprisoned on new charges. These past convictions had barred him from running for public office. Despite his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), winning the majority of parliamentary seats, it wasn’t enough to form a government. Allegations of election rigging to prevent PTI from winning outright allowed rival parties, supported by the military, to form a coalition government led by Shehbaz Sharif.
Imran Khan, who graduated from Oxford in 1975
with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics, is now in the running for the chancellor position. He faces competition from former British prime ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson.
The chancellor election will be decided by members of the Convocation, which includes all Oxford alumni who hold a degree. To be eligible, candidates must be nominated by at least two Convocation members. According to Oxford’s website, the election will be conducted online during the third week of the Michaelmas term, starting on October 28. The chancellor will serve a ten-year term, a role traditionally held by university graduates, often with political backgrounds.
Khan’s connection to Oxford runs deep. After being rejected by Cambridge University in 1972, he went on to study at Oxford, where he also captained the university’s cricket team. His global fame in cricket during the 1990s laid the foundation for his political career, where he became a vocal critic of the US-led “war on terror,” including the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“He’s a global icon,” said Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari
Khan’s former assistant and current aide. Bukhari highlighted Khan’s qualifications, mentioning his successful tenure as chancellor of the University of Bradford in northern England from 2005 to 2014, his popularity as Pakistan’s prime minister, and his global recognition as an Oxford alumnus.
Bukhari believes Khan would take the chancellor role very seriously, given his strong connection to Oxford, both academically and through cricket. He also sees Khan’s election as chancellor as a significant statement, especially considering his current imprisonment.
“If Oxford alumni want him as chancellor, it would send a powerful message about what he stands for,” Bukhari said. “It would also send a message to the Pakistani government that, even though they’ve imprisoned their most popular leader, the world—including institutions like the UN and Oxford University—recognizes that he shouldn’t be behind bars.”
