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Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of the PTI party, has brewed a storm of controversy over his candidature for the Chancellorship post at Oxford University.
Jailed in Adiala Jail, Khan’s candidature to such a prestigious position is raising a storm not only within academia but outside it too.
The former premier filing the nomination papers from jail has already raised many questions at an international level. Most critics hold that his candidature is clearly unsustainable in view of his recent conviction on charges of corruption, not to mention his supportive extremist groups Taliban and Osama Bin Laden.
Comments voiced by him recently on the issue of women’s clothes have strengthened the objections. Most Critics hold that all these depict him as an unfit person for the post of Chancellor of Oxford, which is an entirely apparaitional role.
The University of Oxford refused to say anything about the individual, and the final list of candidates will not be made public by the university until early October. This forthcoming election, which will take place online this October 28th, will follow a process that mandates a first round of voting should less than ten candidates be in the fray. For 10 or more candidates in the fray, a second round will follow in November.
Implications for Pakistani politics
Khan’s campaign for the position of the Oxford Chancellor is more than a personal or academic victory at stake. It has important political implications. His victory will further catapult Pakistan into international media, thus raising global pressure on the countries’ current state of political affairs and on Pakistan’s military establishment.
The situation can further saddle and influence Pakistani politics also because of that man’s personality and continued influence as a former international cricket champion and political leader.
Election process and traditions
Even though the office of Chancellor of Oxford University is very honorary in nature, it is nonetheless steeped in tradition. The office was initially a life tenure dating as far back as 1224. There recently changed the election to a ten-year office. The Chancellor chairs the main ceremonial assemblies of the university and serves as the titular head of the institution. He or she also serves as an ambassador, exercising advocacy and fundraising functions.
- Nomination: Normally candidates are nominated by members of the university community. This is an informal stage and leads to the actual submission of nominations
- Convocation: The election is implemented by the Convocation, which is the body of Oxford alumni who received higher degrees. The much-increased number of electors these days vote online or by postal ballot
- Electioneering and voting: Although the post is honorary, there is nevertheless some electioneering by candidates. Voting is by electronic means and – if needed – a second round is run if no candidate achieves an absolute majority in the first
- Investiture: The new Chancellor is formally invested at the Encaenia ceremony with traditional ceremony including the award of honorary doctorates
The candidates
Among those who have entered the competition this year, the names stand out: former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson; and other personalities like William Hague and Peter Mandelson. Khan an Oxfordian and ex-Chancellor of the University of Bradford is a high-profile personality in the campaign.
