Pakistanโs former prime minister, Imran Khan, currently imprisoned on various charges, has applied to become the next chancellor of the prestigious University of Oxford, according to his party.
Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, recently marked one year in prison on charges ranging from corruption to inciting violenceโaccusations he claims are politically motivated to prevent his return to power.
Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, the London-based spokesman for Khanโs Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, confirmed the application, stating, โImran Khan had given instructions to submit his application, and now the scrutiny process will begin.โ He added, โWhile the post is largely ceremonial, it carries immense prestige, and given Khanโs prominence as an Oxford alumnus, it would be remarkable to see him as chancellor.โ
The current chancellor, Conservative peer Chris Patten, who was the last British governor of Hong Kong, announced in February that he would be stepping down. The list of candidates for the 10-year term will be revealed in October, with voting scheduled for the end of the month, as per the universityโs website.
Khan graduated from Oxford in 1975, having studied philosophy, politics, and economics. Before his political career, Khan was known for his playboy lifestyle and was frequently featured in Britainโs gossip magazines. He has been married three times, including to British socialite and filmmaker Jemima Goldsmith, and later transitioned into philanthropy and politics.
As prime minister, Khan faced criticism from womenโs rights groups for comments linking Pakistanโs high rates of sexual violence to womenโs clothing. After being ousted in 2022, he launched a comeback campaign, criticizing Pakistanโs powerful military and drawing large crowds in his support.
โIf he becomes chancellor, he would be the first of Asian descent to hold the positionโa significant achievement not only for Pakistan but for all of Asia and the world,โ Bukhari noted.
Other notable candidates for the chancellorship reportedly include former foreign secretary William Hague and former EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson, according to British media.
Source: AFP
