LONDON: In a significant development, Oxford University has not included former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in the list of candidates for the prestigious role of Chancellor.
A university source confirmed to Geo News that more than 40 individuals applied, but only 38 were approved based on the university’s exclusion criteria. Khan was disqualified from running due to several factors, including his criminal conviction and political involvement.
Among the prominent candidates for the role were Lord William Hague, Lady Elish Angiolini, Lord Peter Mandelson, Dr. Margaret Casely-Hayford, and Dominic Grieve, with Khan being the only one excluded from this group of well-known figures.
The source declined to provide further details, but Geo News previously reported that a King’s Counsel at UK’s Matrix Chambers had stated that Khan is ineligible for the position under the university’s regulations. Hugh Southey, King’s Counsel, noted, “In my opinion, Khan is unlikely to be eligible due to one of his criminal convictions.”
Nearly 40 candidates, many of whom are of Pakistani origin, have been approved for the election, with 26,000 registered voters.