Former Pakistan Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has been disqualified from running in the much-anticipated race for the position of Chancellor at the University of Oxford, according to reports on Wednesday.
A university source informed that, “More than 40 people applied and only 38 were approved. The candidates were excluded based on the university’s criteria. Khan has been disqualified due to various factors, including his criminal conviction and political role.” Over 26,000 individuals have registered to vote in this election.
Among the prominent names competing for the Chancellor role are Lord William Hague, Lady Elish Angiolini, Lord Peter Mandelson, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, and Dominic Grieve. Khan was the only notable figure excluded from the race.
Legal hurdles had been anticipated, as a King’s Counsel from the UK’s leading Matrix Chambers had previously indicated that Khan’s legal troubles might prevent him from being eligible for the position. Hugh Southey KC, an expert lawyer, had said, “In my opinion, Khan is unlikely to be eligible to be a candidate in light of one of his criminal convictions.”
Imran Khan Ineligible for Oxford Chancellorship, Says UK Legal Expert
Nearly 40 candidates are officially listed, many of whom have Pakistani origins. The University of Oxford confirmed that the voting process will take place in two rounds. The first will begin in Week 3 of the Michaelmas term, allowing voters to rank their preferred candidates. The top five will move forward to the second round in November.
Oxford has made an effort to attract candidates from diverse backgrounds for this prestigious role, using an open application process. The exclusion of candidates, like Khan, is based on university regulations, including legal and ethical considerations.
Beltway Grid, a policy advocacy group, analyzed the legal opinion provided by Hugh Southey, which highlighted potential legal issues with Khan’s candidacy. They noted the regulations concerning trustees, particularly around honesty and transparency, which raised questions about whether Khan met the necessary standards. The report also referenced Khan’s continued involvement in Pakistani politics, including his clear intentions to run for Prime Minister again.
Meanwhile, Oxford Alumni Pakistan distanced itself from the controversy, clarifying that as a group they do not endorse or oppose any candidate. “The statements circulating in the media are not representative of our collective voice,” they said, emphasizing the importance of fair and independent elections.
Zulfi Bukhari, Khan’s international adviser, expressed disappointment at the decision on social media, calling it “extremely unfortunate.” He revealed that lawyers had written to the university requesting clarification. “We had sought several opinions from lawyers and barristers before his application,” Bukhari said, describing the decision as a “loss for Oxford University.”
He also apologized to supporters, stating, “I know my nation and many others would have loved to see Imran Khan as the new Chancellor of Oxford.” However, he stressed that Khan’s candidacy had succeeded in drawing attention to Khan’s situation, even if it did not result in his participation in the election.
Bukhari confirmed that his team had hired legal firms to support Khan’s bid and had used them to generate interest in the campaign, which he said had ultimately brought more focus to the former PM’s plight.
