Oxford Union’s new president says he faced dirty trick attacks

LONDON: Oxford Union’s new President Moosa Harraj has said that it’s a matter of pride for him to be elected as president of the world’s oldest and most prestigious debating society but the journey leading up to the win has been challenging.

Moosa Harraj, who is originally from Khanewal, was elected Oxford Union president last week for Michaelmas Term 2025.

Speaking to Geo News, Harraj shared that he faced attacks and slurs from his opponents during the campaign but continued undeterred. Harraj fought the tough contest for the world’s most famous debating society and won a decisive mandate of 200 votes over his opponent, Chris Collins, in an election that saw an unprecedentedly high turnout.

Harraj is the son of former and current federal minister Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj. He is the fifth Pakistani to be elected to the prestigious position after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, left-wing intellectual Tariq Ali and former presidents Ahmad Nawaz and Israr Khan.

He said: “Oxford Union is the world’s oldest and most prestigious debating society. Former prime minister Boris Johnson had said it was easier for him to become the UK prime minister than the president of the Oxford Union. It was a tough contest but thanks to the support of my team and friends, me and my whole team were elected with huge margins.”

Harraj said that he faced a sleuth of dirty attacks and campaigning by his opponents. He said: “They called me an ISI agent. Some said that the Pakistani cabal were taking over Oxford. There were several attacks from all sides, some from Pakistanis and some others. The resentment in these cases happens. Some local students are those whose entire families studied at Oxford, for several generations running now.