LONDON: Oxford Uni­versity this week announced a long list of election candidates for its prestigious chancellor position with 38 names. Notable by absence was the name of PTI founder Imran Khan, whose candidacy was a subject of great discussion in both the UK and Pakistan during the application process.

UK-based PTI member Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari tweeted after the list was published, “It’s extremely unfortunate that Oxford University has excluded Imran Khan’s name from the Oxford Chancellor Election. My lawyers have written to the university asking for their reasons.”

The decision comes after weeks of media coverage in the two countries about Mr Khan’s candidacy, with British MPs and journalists advocating for his nomination.

Some publications, including The Observer and The Telegraph, published critical articles about Mr Khan which were met with much disdain by his supporters.

Among those in the list are former Conservative Party leader William Hague as well as former Labour politician Peter Mandelson.

The group of 38 candidates vying for the ceremonial role includes names from Pakistan.

Sidra Aftab, a lawyer from Lahore, is among the candidates. In her candidate statement, Ms Aftab said she has spent nearly a decade defending clients in civil and criminal cases, and emphasised the importance of justice, ethical leadership and inclusivity in her statement.

She underscored her belief in fostering an environment where every voice is heard, regardless of rank or position, a vision she hoped to bring to Oxford. “The role of chancellor may be symbolic, but it should be free from the conservative and orthodox inhuman approach that revolves around discrimination,” she says.

Another Pakistani contender is Hasanat Ahmad, a doctoral scholar in Applied Linguistics at Minhaj University Lahore. In his statement, Mr Ahmad highlighted his experience in education and administration, and expressed his eagerness to contribute to Oxford’s educational and research missions.

“I am interested in this position and can work on a voluntary basis to provide my best services,” he stated.

Aftab Ahmad Javaid Muham­mad Hafiz Shaikh, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is also running for the position. Mr Shaikh brings experience from both his legal career and his time in student leadership at Punjab University.

The exclusion of Imran Khan came as a blow to his followers, with some urging Mr Zulfi to ask Oxford to reveal the reasons for the ex-PM’s exclusion, and to probe if there had been external influence in the selection.

The candidates are vying to succeed former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten, who left the post in June after 21 years.

Hoping to become the first woman to hold the position in 800 years is Scottish lawyer Elish Angiolini, who led a high-profile inquiry into the rape, abduction and murder of a marketing executive by a London police officer in 2021.

The first round of voting will take place online during the week commencing Oct 28, where voters can rank their preferred candidates. The top five candidates from this round will proceed to a second round, scheduled for mid-November, with the final result expected later in the month.

With additional input from AFP

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024