Israr Kakar from Balochistan elected Oxford Union president

LONDON: Israr Kakar, a student from Balochistan at Oxford University, has been elected President of the Oxford Union. This marks a historic achievement as he is the first person from Balochistan and the third Pakistani to hold this position.

Kakar, originating from Qilla Abdullah district in Balochistan, becomes the third Pakistani to lead the prestigious union. The first Pakistani to hold the position was Benazir Bhutto in 1977, followed by Ahmad Nawaz, a survivor of the APS School Peshawar attack.

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Kakar was elected Oxford Union President on Saturday.

Israr Kakar’s journey began in a small village in Qilla Abdullah district, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He is the youngest of 13 siblings and pursued his early education in his village, followed by studies in Abbottabad, Lahore, and the United States.

He completed his LLB with distinction from the University of Aberdeen and then received a fully-funded scholarship to study for the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy candidate in the Law Department at Oxford. Among his siblings, he is the second to attend college, with his elder brother being a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Kakar expressed his gratitude to the Oxford Union members and his team for their support. He emphasised the importance of his achievement for young people from humble backgrounds and his commitment to making the Union more inclusive and relevant.

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The Oxford Union’s official newspaper reported that Kakar secured 617 first preferences against his opponent Izzy Horrocks-Taylor’s 393, a wider margin than seen in recent elections.

Kakar has been actively involved in organising debates at the Union and has hosted notable speakers such as former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Muhammad, Malala Yousufzai, and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.