Imran Khan set to contest election for Oxford University Chancellor from jail

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is all set to contest election for the coveted post of Chancellor of Oxford University from Adiala jail, where he is imprisoned in a new graft case.

The news was shared by The Telegraph, which quoted the former prime minister's team as confirming the development.

The opportunity for the former prime minister came when Chirs pattern, former chancellor of the university, stepped down after 21 years.

“Imran Khan will contest for the chancellor of Oxford University as there is a public demand that he should contest,” Advisor to Imran Khan on international relations and media, Zulfi Bukhari, said while talking to the publication.

“We will announce it publicly once we get a go-ahead from Khan and start the signature campaign for it,” he added.

The chancellorship is open to election among Oxford graduates and usually goes to a former politician.

For the first time, the election for the cushiest job will be held online and graduates will not have to attend the vote in full academic dress, the prestigious university said.

According to the article published by The Standard in February, the former British Prime Minister Theresa May is a strong contender for the post, however, another strong candidate is the former politician Rory Stewart.

"More wild-card candidates include Imran Khan, the former Pakistani PM and cricketer... and former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Boris Johnson," the Standard added in its article.

Mr Khan is an Alumni of Oxford University, who graduated from Keble College at the varsity in 1975. He read philosophy, politics, and economics during his time there and even captained the university’s cricket team.

Imran Khan had also served as the chancellor of Bradford University from 2005 to 2014.