It has been widely confirmed that the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail, is set to run for the position of Chancellor at Oxford University. Oxford University, over a thousand years old, is a prestigious and renowned institution in the UK. It graduates around 4,000 students annually, both local and international, with an average of about 14-15 Pakistanis among them.
Attending this globally acclaimed university is considered a unique and distinguished honor for individuals from any part of the world. Oxford University has produced many world leaders, inventors, renowned intellectuals, writers, famous scientists, and philosophers. The PTI founder is also an alumnus of this university. The position of Chancellor at Oxford University is currently vacant, as the previous Chancellor, Chris Patten, resigned due to old age. The process of selecting a new Chancellor is underway.
A fundamental requirement for the position is that the candidate must be an Oxford graduate and have distinguished themselves in politics, economics, sociology, and public service. The PTI founder appears to meet these criteria. The election for the Chancellor will take place next month, in October. Last month, during a court appearance in Adiala Jail, the PTI founder revealed for the first time that he would be running for the position of Chancellor. The news of his candidacy was covered by major media outlets worldwide, particularly because this would be the first time in history that a person in jail is running for the position of Chancellor.
According to a journal published by Oxford University, more than 250,000 people are expected to participate in the election for Chancellor. All eligible voters are Oxford graduates. The journal also notes that the initial voting requirements were (1) that voters must wear the university’s prescribed uniform and (2) that they must be physically present at the university on election day. However, for the first time in history, these conditions have been removed, allowing online voting. This leniency is reportedly due to the fact that one of the candidates (the PTI founder) is imprisoned and therefore unable to be physically present at Oxford or cast a vote in person.
The PTI founder is resolute about becoming Oxford University’s Chancellor. In a statement from jail, he said, “I have submitted my nomination to become the new Chancellor of Oxford University because the university supported me during my early years. Now, I want to contribute something to this university. I want to teach the world the dedication and integrity that life has taught me when circumstances were against me.”
There are powerful and influential opponents running against the PTI founder, such as Lady Flinch Angelini, William Hague, and Peter Mandelson. However, the PTI founder is confident that he will surpass them and make a unique mark in Pakistani and global history. The PTI founder has also served as Chancellor at Bradford University in the UK (though he had to resign from that position for certain reasons), an honor not held by any of his rival candidates. He has many supporters in the UK lobbying for his success, and his former in-laws (a powerful and wealthy British elite family) are reportedly making all possible efforts for his victory.
While there are many supporters for the PTI founder’s candidacy, his opponents are also significant in number. These opponents have mobilized and are sending numerous and well-reasoned emails to the Oxford University administration and the election authorities against him. The goal is to prevent the PTI founder from succeeding in this election. Oxford University sources have confirmed the receipt of these opposing emails.
On August 28, 2024, the UK’s largest newspaper, Daily Mail (with a daily circulation of approximately 800,000), published on its front page the headline: “University of Oxford is inundated with angry protests after disgraced ex-PM Pakistan Imran Khan revealed plans to run for chancellor from his prison cell.” The PML-N has exploited this news from “Daily Mail” against the PTI founder. A British PML-N activist (Khurram Butt) has also filed a petition against the PTI founder at the university.
The alleged complaints against the PTI founder include (1) past support for the Taliban and actions aligned with extremist views, such as suggesting allowing the Taliban to open an office in Pakistan, which received criticism domestically and internationally. (2) Support for Osama bin Laden, referring to him as a martyr in a speech to the National Assembly. (3) Claims that women’s clothing contributes to incidents of sexual violence, asserting that scantily dressed women impact men. (4) Harassment of critics by his supporters, including attacks and online trolling.
The forces for and against the PTI founder are evenly matched. Given the presence of these complaints and emails, it would be miraculous for the PTI founder to be elected as Oxford University’s Chancellor. It is peculiar that while PTI supporters have created disturbances outside the homes of Nawaz Sharif’s sons in London, the PTI founder has remained silent. Now, it is PML-N’s turn, and its alleged British supporters have stirred a storm against the PTI founder to prevent him from becoming the Chancellor. Despite this, if the PTI founder is elected, it would indeed be an honor for Pakistan and its people. Moreover, this election might create new international pressure for his early release from jail, as diverse forces opposing him would prefer not to see a former Prime Minister of Pakistan and jail inmate become the Chancellor of Oxford University.