Imran vying for Oxford chancellor from jail ‘to give back’

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan has said he is running to be Oxford’s new chancellor from jail because the university helped him in his early years and he wanted to “give back”.

The former prime minister of Pakistan told The Telegraph from his prison cell that he would be a passionate advocate for the university, where he studied more than 50 years ago. Mr Khan will stand to replace 80-year-old Lord Patten despite having been in prison for more than a year on charges he says are politically motivated to keep him from regaining power.

In his first public comments on his application, the former international cricketer said: “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.

“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.” Mr Khan, 71, studied philosophy, politics and economics at Keble College from 1972 to 1975 and also captained the university cricket team.

Lord Hannan, the Tory peer and former MEP, this week threw his support behind Mr Khan, describing him as a “towering figure in the worlds of philanthropy, sport and politics” and saying: “He would make a superb chancellor for the world’s foremost university.”

Mr Khan faces a formidable field in the race to be the new figurehead of the university. Leading rivals include Lord Hague, the former foreign secretary, Lord Mandelson, the Labour grandee, and Lady Angiolini, the prominent lawyer who led the inquiry into the rape, abduction and murder of Sarah Everard.

While Mr Khan may be considered a wildcard entry, his application could help raise awareness of his imprisonment and put pressure on the Pakistan government and the country’s powerful military leadership. More than 250,000 Oxford alumni will vote in an online ballot later this year. The successful candidate will serve a 10-year term, supporting Prof Irene Tracey, the current vice-chancellor.