Bukhari blames Pakistan govt for Imran Khan’s disqualification from Oxford chancellor contest

Former prime minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, March 17, 2023. — Reuters
Former prime minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks with Reuters throughout an interview, in Lahore, March 17, 2023. — Reuters

LONDON: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan’s aide has claimed that the Pakistan authorities led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif performed a task within the disqualification of the previous premier from the Oxford College chancellor election.

Syed Zulfi Bukhari, the previous PM adviser on worldwide affairs, ran a high-profile media marketing campaign for the imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) high chief to run within the election however the college determined to not permit Khan to face within the election, not to mention turn into the chancellor, over Toshakhana conviction and politicisation of the difficulty.

Talking to The Information, Bukhari stated he was satisfied that the federal government forces from Pakistan campaigned towards Khan’s candidacy and put the college beneath some form of stress to dam him from contesting the chancellor election.

“The Oxford College has made a really narrow-minded and pressured determination to dam Imran Khan. The choice got here as an enormous disappointment as a result of the entire of Pakistan needed Imran Khan to participate within the Oxford College chancellor election. Individuals from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and plenty of Islamic nations needed Imran Khan to participate, he claimed.

The PTI chief additional stated that almost 200 Oxford alumni signed the petition in Khan’s assist, saying there have been no authorized grounds to dam Imran Khan.

“Earlier than we submitted Imran Khan’s nomination papers we took recommendation from many King’s Counsels (KCs) and so they agreed that nothing is barring Imran Khan legally from collaborating. The Oxford Uni has made a narrow-minded and pressured determination to dam Imran Khan. To say that Imran Khan is convicted within the Toshakhana case wouldn’t justify the choice as a result of in the identical case, the United Nations Working Group has stated that Imran Khan’s detention is against the law and circumstances towards him are politically motivated.

In all different circumstances the sentences have been appealed and put aside so there isn’t any authorized standing. On the finish of the day, Oxford College has a charitable standing and based on the UK guidelines governing charities, Imran Khan is eligible to open his financial institution accounts and turn into a trustee or turn into a charity director.”

Bukhari stated one of many greatest consciousness campaigns within the historical past of Oxford College was run round Khan’s candidacy and the entire world received to learn about his case by means of this marketing campaign. He stated he was conscious that the varsity was petitioned towards Khan – first began by social media activists R A Shehzad and Hajra Khan and later picked up PML-N UK’s Khurram Butt and a number of other others – however he stated a number of different actors performed a task too.

He stated: “I perceive that many pressures got here alongside his candidacy. I imagine that Oxford Uni has made a ‘pressured determination’ and Lord Daniel Hannan clearly stated it a call was made in stress. I don’t suppose the UK authorities has performed a component however the Pakistani authorities definitely has. Political variations apart, the Pakistani authorities ought to have supported Imran Khan as he would have offered Pakistan on a world stage. They need to have supported him as a Pakistani hero. There isn’t any doubt that there was sufficient stress utilized and Oxford College could have thought that they didn’t need to get entangled in a muddy state of affairs.”

Bukhari has additionally stated he’s contemplating authorized motion towards the college and already written to the college.

“Naturally, earlier than making use of for this function we took the recommendation of KCs, high solicitors throughout the nation, barristers – and with their consent and their opinion did we go forward. So legally there isn’t any purpose why Khan shouldn’t be allowed to contest. I’m certain we’ll resolve it. We’ll use all authorized potentialities.”

A college supply informed The Information: “Greater than 40 folks utilized and solely 38 had been accepted. The candidates had been solely excluded based on the exclusion standards of the college. 26,000 folks have registered to vote on this election. Khan has been disqualified to run within the election over a number of elements together with his conviction and political function.”

The distinguished names eager to turn into the subsequent Chancellor are Lord William Hague, Girl Elish Angiolini, Lord Peter Mandelson, Khan, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford and Dominic Grieve however solely Khan has been disqualified from the highest 5 well-known figures.

The Information had reported solely on Tuesday {that a} King’s Counsel at UK’s main legislation agency Matrix Chambers has opined that former prime minister Khan is just not eligible for Oxford Chancellorship based on the college’s personal laws. Hugh Southey, King’s Counsel at Matrix Chambers in London stated: “In my view, Khan is unlikely to be eligible to be a candidate in gentle of one in every of his legal convictions.”

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