Imran Khan is blocked from Oxford University chancellorship race after applying from prison

Imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has been blocked from running to be Oxfords next chancellor after the University dropped him off a list of 38 candidates.

Mr Khan is currently in jail on charges of corruption - though supporters say these are trumped up and lawyers argue all convictions have either been overturned or suspended.

The politicians team has written to the university, branding the decision extremely disappointing.

A number of high-profile figures such as Lord Mandelson and Lord Hague of Richmond complete the final list of candidates for the Oxford chancellor role.

The University of Oxford said all applications were considered by the Chancellors election committee solely against four exclusion criteria.

Imran Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan, where he was educated and proved to be a fine cricketer. He made his first-class test debut for Lahore at the age of sixteen and was selected for the Pakistan cricket team in 1970, where he soon made a permanent place for himself

The Radcliffe Camera (Camera, meaning room in Latin) situated in Oxford, England - an iconic landmark associated with the University

The Chancellor must not be disqualified from being a charity trustee by virtue of section 178 of the Charities Act 2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision) or subject to a disqualification order made by the Charity Commission and must be a fit and proper person.

They add that the chancellor cannot be a student or an employee of the university, or a serving member of - or a declared candidate for election to - an elected legislature.

The cricketer-turned politician was prime minister of Pakistan from 2018-2022 after studying politics, philosophy and economics at Keble College, Oxford in the 1970s.

He captained the Pakistan mens cricket team when they won the World Cup in 1992 and served as chancellor of the University of Bradford for eight years.

Zulfikar Bukhari, an aide of Mr Khan who was authorised to submit the application, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Its extremely unfortunate that Oxford University has excluded Imran Khans name from the Oxford chancellor election.

The University of Oxford has received angry emails and a petition after Imran Khan revealed plans to run for chancellor from his prison cell in Pakistan 

The former prime minister has been in jail for more than a year for charges he says are politically motivated

My lawyers have written to the university asking for their reasons.

He added that the decision was a loss for the University of Oxford.

A spokesman for the institution said a number of candidates were excluded through the process, but would not confirm or comment on which applications had been rejected.

Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, Khans aide, said the universitys decision was extremely disappointing, speaking to The Times.

He added: We studied the eligibility process. We have had several lawyers, barristers and even KC opinions proving that he is allowed to contest and we took it from there.

Without a doubt, it is a grey area so the interpretation lies upon every KC or barrister you go to. 

Because its the first time for everything — the first time for an online election, the first time that someones applying from prison, there isnt an affirmative law on this and the interpretation that Oxford must have taken was obviously a negative one.

We have top lawyers around the world, including the ones representing Imran Khan, that say that there is no reason why he should not be able to stand.

The chancellor is the titular head of the university, presiding over key ceremonies, and they also chair the committee to elect the vice-chancellor.

This year marks the first one that 250,000 staff and alumni of the university will vote online for the appointment - a post which has been in place at Oxford for 800 years.

In the week commencing October 28, voters will have the opportunity to rank as many candidates as they choose.

The top five candidates are to then proceed to the second round of voting, which will take place in the week commencing November 18.

The new chancellor - who will be in post for a fixed term of no more than 10 years - will be announced in the week of November 25.

Amid the controversy, among the candidates vying to be the universitys first female chancellor are Lady Elish Angiolini, principal of St Hughs College in Oxford and chairman of the inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard, and Baroness Jan Royall, principal of Somerville College in Oxford and former leader of the House of Lords.

Margaret Casely-Hayford, who recently stood down as Chancellor of Coventry University and who is a former chairman of Shakespeares Globe, would be the first black woman in the historic post if she won.

In her statement, Ms Casely-Hayford said: In the near millennia Oxford has been teaching, it has not yet appointed a female or chancellor of colour, and that should change starting now.

I dont think my gender or racial background should give me a free pass. I believe my leadership roles speak for themselves. 

Former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve and former Tory universities minister Lord David Willetts are also of the high profile contenders.

The election comes after Lord Patten announced in February he would be retiring after more than 20 years in the position.

News of Mr Khan being blocked comes after an online petition endorsing him for the role had reached over 125,000 signatures.