LONDON: Imran Khan, the imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan, is aiming to become Oxford University’s next chancellor when the varsity graduates and staff vote later this year.
“As per Imran Khan’s instructions, his application form to Oxford University Chancellor Election 2024 has been submitted. We look forward to everyone’s support for a historic campaign,” PTI leader Zulfikar Bukhari said in a post on X.
Khan, an alumnus of Oxford University, is currently languishing in a jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, seeking bail in multiple cases, which range from corruption to inciting violence. Khan denies the allegations.
For several hundred years, elections to the largely ceremonial role of Oxford chancellor required graduates and staff to be in Oxford and wearing academic dress to vote. But Khan’s candidacy has been eased by new rules allowing nominations and voting to be carried out online, according to The Guardian.
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Other than his political standing, Khan’s qualifications include eight years as chancellor of the University of Bradford, and studying politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford’s Keble College in the 1970s while winning honours for the university’s cricket team. He captained the Pakistan men’s cricket team when they won the World Cup in 1992.
Nominations for candidates closed on Sunday. The university said no confirmation of individual candidates would be given before a final list was published in early October.
Voting will be held online from 28 October. Only Oxford graduates and members of the university’s congregation, including academic staff, are able to vote.
Although a non-executive role, the chancellor chairs the committee appointing the vice-chancellor and is involved in fundraising, advocacy and oversight.