Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah has listed down the probable reasons that led to Oxford University blocking founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, from the University chancellorship race.
Appearing on the Neo News programme Madde Muqabal, journalist Murtaza Ali Shah disclosed that Imran Khan does not fulfil the requirements of becoming Oxford University chancellor, which demands a “fit and proper person.”
According to the Oxford University criteria for Chancellorship, a convicted person is not eligible to become the University chancellor. “Imran Khan was convicted in Tosha Khana case,” the journalist said.
Murtaza Ali Shah further revealed, “A chancellor candidate shouldn’t be the member of a legislative assembly. Although currently Imran Khan is not a lawmaker, there is the possibility of his premiership in future, on which the University has reservations.”
Meanwhile, The Telegraph lambasted Imran Khan shortly before Oxford University released its list of ineligible candidates to run for the Chancellorship post.
An oped printed by The Telegraph declared Imran Khan a narcissistic man and a sympathiser to Taliban who had restricted women’s education in Afghanistan, adding that if Khan was elected Oxford Chancellor, he would help Western enemies.
The newspaper wrote that 20th-century cricketer Imran Khan, who presented himself as a quasi-islamist in the 21st century, though in reality he is not Islamist, was among the candidates competing for Oxford chancellorship.
He is remembered either as a cricketer or for his frivolous stories in magazines in the 1980s, yet some people in the United Kingdom (UK) advocating for Imran Khan, the oped said.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s Advisor on International Affairs, Syed Zulfi Bukhari, claimed that Oxford University blocked Khan from contesting the chancellor election after the Pakistan government pressured the administration.
“The Oxford University has made a very narrow-minded and pressured decision to block Imran Khan. The decision came as a big disappointment because the whole of Pakistan wanted Imran Khan to take part in the Oxford University chancellor election. People from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and many Islamic countries wanted Imran Khan to take part,” Bukhari told Geo News.
