London: Pakistani master’s student Moosa Harraj, son of former federal minister Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, was elected president of the Oxford Union for the mandate of Michaelmas 2025.
Moosa is the fourth Pakistanis to be elected to the prestigious post after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and former presidents Ahmad Nawaz and Israr Khan. He is the first president of Pakistani origin from Punjab.
Harraj fought the difficult competition of the most famous debate company in the world and won a decisive mandate of 200 votes against his opponent, Chris Collins, during an election which experienced an unprecedented participation rate. He received 833 first preferences, one of the highest votes expressed for a presidential candidate in recent times.
Harraj joined the University of Oxford in 2023 to continue its MPHil in economics at Balliol College, Oxford. He studied at the Aitchison College de Lahore before continuing the rest of his secondary studies at the Charterhouse School in Surrey.
Having done his undergraduate studies at the prestigious School of Economics in London (LSE) and at Harvard University, Moosa joined Oxford University in 2023 to continue its MPHil in economics in Balliol College, Oxford.
Talk about Geo NewsHarraj said: “It is a pleasure to have been elected president of the Oxford Union and I would like to thank and above all Allah Almighty for this achievement. It is a privilege that members trust me. I hope it can show each student not only from Pakistan, but everything in South Asia that they can also dream of! “”
Harraj’s entire team, named Bridge, swept the officers’ elections. Katherine Yang obtained the position of librarian with 826 first preferences, the Pakistani student Raza Nazar won as elected treasurer with 878 first preferences, and Jennifer Yang was elected secretary with first 855 preferences.
The Harraj family is considered quite influential in the Khanewal region of Punjab.