Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has officially applied for the role of Chancellor at Oxford University, a move that has drawn significant international attention amid his current legal and political challenges in Pakistan.
Despite facing a severe crackdown and censorship at home, this opportunity has brought global focus back to Khan’s situation.
His decision to run for the chancellorship has been widely covered by prominent British media outlets such as The Guardian, BBC, and The Times, highlighting his claims of “trumped up charges” against him.
Columnist Peter Oborne of Middle East Eye even wrote an article titled “Why Imran Khan must become Oxford University’s next chancellor,” arguing that Khan’s appointment could send a strong message about UK values.
Khan, who was already a household name in the UK before his political career, enjoys significant goodwill in British society from his cricketing days, his time at Oxford, and his marriage to Jemima Goldsmith.
While his chances of winning the largely symbolic position may be slim, the extensive media coverage has already given Khan a significant victory in the court of public opinion.
The election for Oxford’s next Chancellor, set for October 28, will be the first conducted entirely online, with graduates, faculty members, and retired staff eligible to vote.
Despite the odds, Khan’s candidacy has sparked an unprecedented level of interest in what is typically a low-key election, turning it into an international event.
