Pakistan's election authorities on Saturday rejected former prime minister Imran Khan's nomination papers in two constituencies - a move that could push him out of the race weeks before the general election.
Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said his nominations for contesting elections in his hometown Mianwali in Punjab and another constituency in Lahore were dismissed.
The nomination papers of other key party figures, including former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, have also been rejected.
"We will challenge all these decisions in courts," a party spokesperson said.
The Election Commission received over 28,000 nominations for the national and provincial assembly elections scheduled for February 8.
It was not clear why the commission rejected his nomination, although Khan has faced a slew of political and legal challenges ever since he was ousted as prime minister in April 2022 in a vote of no confidence.
Khan was arrested in August on corruption charges and a court later ordered his release. But then another court in the capital said he must be kept in the same prison on charges of leaking a confidential diplomatic cable while in office.
Despite all the legal troubles, the 71-year-old is aiming to be prime minister again.
The PTI accused the state machinery of unfairly operating against the party's interests.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter were approved to contest the elections. Sharif would be seeking a fourth term despite facing a "life-long disqualification" from the Supreme Court that makes his eligibility uncertain.
Both Khan and Sharif experienced political downfalls after falling out of favour with powerful military figures.
