Pakistani student elected president of graduate community at Oxford's Trinity College

LONDON: University of Oxford student from Karachi, Raza Nazar has been elected President of the graduate community (MCR) of Oxford’s prestigious Trinity College, making history as the first Pakistani student to do so.

Raza hails from Karachi and studied at Karachi Grammar School and the United World College (UWC) in Singapore while his father Yousuf Nazar, an economist, often appears on Geo News as an analyst. He graduated in law from the London School of Economics (LSE), where he served as president of the LSE Law Society. 

While at LSE, Raza also co-founded the LSE Future of Pakistan conference, an annual forum that brings together students, experts and ministers. He was shortlisted in the Top 5 Future Lawyers (One’s To Watch) by Bright Network and went on to train as a lawyer at magic circle law firm, Slaughter and May.

While at Oxford, Raza read for the Bachelor of Civil Laws (BCL), which is described by the University of Oxford to be "the most highly regarded taught masters-level qualification in the Common Law world". He is one of the few Pakistanis to have completed the BCL, along with former prime minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and former president Wasim Sajjad.

In his BCL, Raza came second in the year for Jurisprudence and Political Theory. He is the recipient of three competitive scholarships, three Verulam Buildings Chambers Scholarship, an Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) Scholar and the Jeffrey Abbott Scholarship.

Speaking to Geo News, Raza said: "I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to make a positive impact in an institution that is over four centuries old. We have such a talented and diverse group of students, ranging from quantum physicists to solar cell researchers, from all over the world. I must also point out that under the leadership of Professor Adeel Malik, the Oxford Pakistan Programme is doing a wonderful job, helping Pakistani scholars and doing groundbreaking research.”

He added: “My research focuses on constitutional theory and autonomy. As an active UWC alumnus, I believe in concept-based learning as a way to empower people to discover themselves and take control of their own destinies. Trinity College was founded in 1555 and has developed into a vibrant community that has produced award-winning academics and successful leaders in the business, political and economic world, including three British prime ministers and various Nobel laureates. I am thankful to my parents for inspiring me and encouraging me throughout my journey.”