The electoral authorities have rejected the nomination papers of former prime minister and former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan from the constituencies of Lahore and Mianwali.
The nomination papers of two prominent PTI members, former federal ministers Azam Swati and Zulfiqar Bukhari, were also rejected.
Imran Khan's nomination papers for NA-122 Lahore were rejected after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Naseer objected. Naseer argued that the proposer and seconder listed in Imran's nomination papers did not belong to the constituency where he intended to contest elections.
Further, Naseer contended that he had been disqualified following his conviction in the Toshakhana case. In his decision, the RO stated that since Imran Khan was convicted, he was disqualified from running in elections.
However, two other PTI candidates saw their nomination papers get the RO's stamp of approval. They include former Punjab governor Sardar Latif Khosa and Advocate Azhar Siddique.
At the same time, nomination papers for former federal minister and PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique have been accepted from NA-122.
In NA-89 Mianwali, Imran Khan's home constituency, his nomination papers were rejected for the very first time.
His papers were rejected after objections to his nomination were raised by former PTI leader Khurram Rokhri and Khalilur Rehman.
They had argued that the PTI founder has been convicted of a crime, and hence is disqualified from participating in elections.
The RO agreed and rejected Imran's papers.
Separately, nomination papers filed for former federal minister Azam Swati from NA-15 Mansehra and Zulfiqar Bukhari from NA-50 Attock, were rejected.
Swati's lawyer, Sohail Swati, told the media that the RO rejected the former federal minister's papers for allegedly carrying fake signatures and for the fact that he was absconding from the law.
The lawyer said they would appeal the returning officer's decision before the election tribunal.
Bukhari's papers in Attock were rejected for allegedly carrying fake signatures. Bukhari, however, stated that his proposer and seconder among six people were all abducted by the authorities.
Maryam Nawaz's papers accepted
Meanwhile, nomination papers filed by PML-N's Chief Organiser, Maryam Nawaz, were accepted from all the constituencies where she had submitted.
Maryam had submitted her nomination papers from NA-159, NA-160, NA-165 and PP-80 Sargodha.
A party spokesperson said that the party will now decide from which constituency Maryam will retain and contest.