New petition says Imran unfit to become Oxford chancellor

LONDON: The University of Oxford has been told that former prime minister Imran Khan is trying to run for the institution’s Chancellor post to advance his personal and political goals and doesn’t have the University’s welfare at heart.

In a new petition, PMLN UK activist Khurram Butt has told the university that Imran Khan wants to score political points by running a media campaign around the Chancellor’s election in a month’s time and will never serve the interests of the university.

Khurram Butt announced on Tuesday that he had visited the University for leafleting and to submit a new petition with new evidence, requesting the university to not let itself become embroiled in politics and controversy.

The petition highlighted the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) £190 million case and alleged that Khan was involved in corruption both in Pakistan and the UK.

The petition to the university said: “We believe that Mr. Khan’s candidacy is incompatible with the values and principles that guide this prestigious institution. The concerns regarding Mr. Khan’s candidacy is rooted in a series of controversies and allegations that raise serious ethical and moral questions about his suitability for the role.”

The petition said: “Mr. Imran Khan has been involved in multiple instances of corruption during his political career, including his conviction for misappropriating state gifts. In one prominent case, a set of gifts valued at over $5 million, gifted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was sold in the UAE grey market by Mr. Khan’s team after he paid a mere $100,000 for it. This and other investigations revealed that Mr. Khan had repeatedly acquired state gifts at minimal costs, profiting greatly from their resale.”

The petition also cites Imran Khan’s alleged involvement in the £190 million case.

The petition mentioned the Financial Times article of last year. It said: “There have been reports, including one by the Financial Times, of illegal funding Mr. Khan’s political campaigns received from discredited individuals like Arif Naqvi.”

The petition said that Mr. Khan’s public statements have been criticised worldwide for their insensitivity and lack of understanding, especially concerning rape. It mentioned Khan’s “men are not robots” statement, suggesting that women’s clothing is responsible for sexual assaults. “Such remarks have incited global outrage, portraying Mr. Khan as a rape apologist and an incorrigible misogynist.”

The petition said: “Mr. Khan has publicly defended and praised the Taliban. After the fall of Kabul, he commented that Afghanistan had ‘broken the shackles of slavery’, which was perceived as an endorsement of the Taliban’s oppressive regime. Such statements reflect a deeply problematic worldview that is incompatible with the values of an institution that promotes education, critical thinking, and human rights.”

In a video statement released from outside the Oxford University, Khurram Butt said that “Imran Khan resigned from his position as Chancellor of Bradford University after students threatened to bring a Vote of No Confidence against him due to his unavailability for university matters”.

The petition added, “Mr Khan is already in prison and may be sentenced for upwards of 14 years in several cases which will make it impossible for him to fulfil his obligations as Chancellor of Oxford University.”