E-Paper
Charges cleared, Bashir is Oxford union president
Ruzwana Bashir became first British-Asian to head the union, after charges against her were dismissed.
Ruzwana Bashir, 20, became the first British-born Asian to head the 175-year-old Oxford University union, after a tribunal appointed to look into complaints of electoral malpractice by her rejected charges against her. In fact, three of her opponents now face sanctions for their roles in a "malicious and frivolous" conspiracy against her.
Bashir, who would serve as president in the term beginning October, said she was "thrilled" to be following in the footsteps of a number of former prime ministers like Edward Heath. Benazir Bhutto was also president of the Union way back in 1970s.
For Bashir it is hard earned victory. She was disqualified on technicalities when she stood for the last term after a resounding win over her rival then. This time too charges were brought up and a tribunal appointed to look into them. Ironically complainants were found guilty of trumpeting frivolous charges.
The Asian students were specially happy that the old powerful clique keen to keep "outsiders" out failed this time.
