Jailed Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan Seeks Oxford Chancellor Role
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister currently imprisoned on various charges, has applied to become the next chancellor of the University of Oxford, according to his party.
Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, marked one year in prison, facing charges ranging from corruption to inciting violence, which he claims are politically motivated.
Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, the London-based spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, confirmed the application, stating, “Imran Khan has instructed that his application be submitted, and now it will undergo scrutiny.” Bukhari added that although the chancellorship is a ceremonial position, it holds significant prestige, and Khan, as a prominent Oxford alumnus, would be a distinguished candidate for the role.
The position became available after Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong and a Conservative peer, announced his resignation as Oxford’s chancellor in February. The final list of candidates for the 10-year term will be revealed in October, with voting scheduled for the end of the month.
Khan graduated from Oxford in 1975, where he studied philosophy, politics, and economics. His early years were marked by a glamorous lifestyle as one of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricket players, frequently appearing in British gossip magazines. Khan later shifted his focus to philanthropy and politics, marrying three times, including a high-profile marriage to British socialite Jemima Goldsmith.
During his tenure as prime minister, Khan faced criticism from women’s rights groups for controversial remarks linking Pakistan’s high rates of sexual violence to women’s clothing. After being ousted from office in 2022, he launched a comeback campaign, drawing large crowds and openly criticizing Pakistan’s powerful military, which had once supported him.
“If Imran Khan becomes the chancellor, he would be the first of Asian descent to hold the position, marking a significant milestone not just for Pakistan, but for Asia and the wider world,” Bukhari noted.
Other prominent candidates reportedly vying for the Oxford chancellorship include former UK foreign secretary William Hague and former EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson.
