LONDON: The first Pakistani ever to become president of the Oxford Union is Mr Tariq Ali Khan of Exeter College, 21-year old son of Mr Mazhar Ali Khan, formerly Editor of the “Pakistan Times” of Lahore. He was elected after three recounts. He polled 643 votes against his nearest rival. Mr Tariq Ali was “gated” last year by Oxford University dons as punishment for taking part in a demonstration against the South African Ambassador, who had come to deliver a talk on apartheid. The Ambassador was booed and the tyres of his car were deflated by Oxford students.—Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Karachi], a Division Bench of the West Pakistan High Court issued notices to the Superintendent, Central Prison, Karachi, for March 8 on a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Mr Mairaj Mohammad Khan, a student leader, challenging his detention by the jail authorities. The petition filed by Mr Amin Ahmed Farooqi, Acting Secretary of the National Students Federation, said that Mairaj was arrested by the CIA on Jan 12 last on the charges of attempting to murder, dacoity, forming an unlawful assembly etc.

Published in Dawn March 7th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play