Imran Khan’s Bid for Oxford Chancellor Rejected, Says Adviser

According to his adviser, Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, his application to become Chancellor of the University of Oxford was rejected. Khan, who has been in prison for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, applied for the largely ceremonial role in September.

On Wednesday, Oxford University released a shortlist of 38 candidates by alums for the first round of voting, but Khan’s name still needs to be included. The university declined to comment on individual applications but highlighted its rules, which require candidates to meet specific criteria, including being “fit and proper” as per HMRC guidelines and not being disqualified as a charity trustee.

Khan’s adviser, Sayed Bukhari, expressed disappointment on social media, calling the decision “extremely unfortunate” and stating it was a missed opportunity for Oxford to showcase itself as a global trendsetter. Bukhari added that he had written to the university to explain Khan’s exclusion.

Imran Khan, an honorary fellow of Oxford’s Keble College, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in the 1970s, has been jailed since August 2023. His legal team and political party, PTI, claim over 200 cases have been filed against him, though only two have been decided. Khan was cleared in cases involving illegal marriage and the Cypher scandal, and he has been granted bail in many other cases. However, he remains in prison, currently facing trial for allegedly misusing his office to buy and sell state gifts unlawfully.

Among the 38 shortlisted candidates for the Oxford chancellor role are notable figures such as former Conservative Party leader Lord Hague and Lord Mandelson, a key figure in New Labour. The first round of voting will occur at the end of October, with the top five candidates moving on to the final round in November. The new chancellor will be announced later that month, succeeding outgoing chancellor Chris Patten, who has held the position since 2003.