Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has applied for the position of Chancellor at the University of Oxford, even while being incarcerated. Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on charges he claims are politically motivated, graduated from Oxford in 1975 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
Khan’s close associate, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, confirmed on social media platform X that the application for the Oxford University Chancellor Election 2024 was submitted from prison. Bukhari urged support for Khan’s “historic campaign,” highlighting Khan’s ongoing influence and ambitions despite his imprisonment.
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Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is currently facing legal challenges in his home country, remaining in custody on new charges despite some previous convictions being suspended or overturned.
The Chancellor of Oxford University is elected by members of Convocation, including all alumni who have been awarded a degree. Candidates must be nominated by at least two members. The role is mostly ceremonial but carries significant prestige. The election is set to be held online during the third week of Michaelmas term, starting on October 28, and Khan’s candidacy is expected to attract international attention given his legal battles and imprisonment in Pakistan.
