LONDON (Kashmir English): Pakistani student Musa Haraj was elected Oxford Union President for Michaelmas Term 2025 after winning 833 votes in a record turnout election against Chris Collins.
A Pakistani student has been elected as the President of the prestigious Oxford Union for Michaelmas Term 2025, securing a decisive victory with 833 votes, the highest received by any presidential candidate in recent times.
Musa Haraj, a Master’s student at Oxford, is the son of former Pakistani federal minister Muhammad Raza Hayat Haraj. His victory marks a significant milestone. He has become the fourth Pakistani to hold this esteemed position after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former Union Presidents Ahmed Nawaz and Israr Khan. He is also the first Pakistani-origin president to hail from Punjab.
The election saw intense competition, with Haraj defeating his opponent, Chris Collins, by a margin of 200 votes in a contest that witnessed an unprecedented voter turnout. His campaign team, known as Bridge, achieved a clean sweep in the officer elections. Other winners included Catherine Yang as the Librarian (826 votes), another Pakistani student Raza Nazar as the Treasurer (878 votes), and Jennifer Yang as the Secretary (855 votes).
Musa Haraj joined Oxford University in 2023 to pursue an MPhil in Economics at Balliol College. Before this, he studied at Lahore’s Aitchison College and later completed his secondary education at Charterhouse School. He then went on to earn his undergraduate degree at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Harvard University before continuing his academic journey at Oxford.
Expressing his gratitude and excitement, Haraj stated, “Being elected President of the Oxford Union is a lifelong honour, and I am deeply grateful to Allah for this achievement. It is an immense privilege to have earned the trust of the Union’s members. I hope this victory inspires students from Pakistan and across South Asia to dream big and aim high.”
The Haraj family is considered highly influential in the Khanewal district of Punjab, Pakistan. His election as Oxford Union President is seen as not just a personal achievement but also a proud moment for Pakistan and the broader South Asian academic community.
