Fact Check: Oxford University has not announced candidates for chancellor

Britain’s Oxford University has clarified that nominated candidates for the post of the chancellor have not been announced and will be made public in October this year.

In reply to an inquiry, Elizabeth Botwright, the Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, University of Oxford said, “Candidates for the election of the Chancellor will be made public in early October, until then we have no comment.”

The query was made after reports that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan will contest for the position of chancellor at the Oxford University despite being in jail.

This was based on statement by Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, Imran Khan’s advisor on international media, who confirmed the candidacy for the currently jailed politician.

“We will announce it publicly once we get a go-ahead from Khan and start the signature campaign for it.,“ Bukhari told a British media outlet. “He’s the most suited person right now for this post and we hope he will win the contest.”

The seat became vacant following the resignation of 80-year-old Lord Patten, who stepped down after 21 years in the role.

Oxford University describes the chancellor’s role as a ceremonial head, typically an eminent public figure elected for life, presiding over all major ceremonies.

The election process for the new chancellor will be conducted online for the first time, allowing the university’s 350,000-strong convocation to participate.

Khan, who studied Economics and Politics at Keble College, Oxford in 1972, also captained the university’s cricket team. He debuted for Pakistan’s Test cricket team in 1971 and served as the chancellor of Bradford University from 2005 to 2014.

The position typically goes to university graduates, often politicians. Former British prime ministers, Tony Blair and Boris Johnson are being considered as potential candidates while Theresa May has ruled her out for the post.