Imran Khan, the imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan, has made the decision to run for the position of the new Chancellor of the University of Oxford in order to contribute to the world.
The 71-year-old former cricketer and current politician, who studied philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) at Keble College from 1972 to 1975 and also served as the captain of the university cricket team, expressed his intention to be a dedicated supporter of the university during an interview with 'The Daily Telegraph' from his prison cell in Rawalpindi earlier this week.
“Oxford University helped me a lot in my formative years. As Chancellor, I would passionately advocate for Oxford, championing its values of diversity, equality and inclusion, both in the UK and abroad,” said Khan in his application.
“I am committed to giving back to the world the resilience, determination and integrity that life has taught me, even when the odds are stacked against me,” he said.
The leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Khan, has been imprisoned for over a year on what he alleges are politically driven charges aimed at preventing him from returning to power in Islamabad.
Reports suggest that he is one of several candidates competing to succeed 80-year-old Lord Chris Patten, who stepped down from the honorary position at the end of July.
According to the newspaper, Conservative Party peer Lord Daniel Hannan has thrown his support behind Khan, describing him as a “towering figure in the worlds of philanthropy, sport and politics”.
“He would make a superb Chancellor for the world’s foremost university,” he said.
Khan’s application is seen as an attempt to also raise awareness around his imprisonment and put pressure on the Pakistani government and military leadership.
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