Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been barred from contesting the election due to be held early next year due to criminal convictions, the election commission said today.
The announcement was made in the city of Lahore, Mr Sharif's power base, where last week he registered to run in the election.
He returned to the country last month after seven years in exile following his overthrow in a coup orchestrated by President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Sharif, who was convicted of hijacking but sent into exile rather than jailed, says the convictions against him were politically motivated.
Mr Sharif was likely to mount a strong challenge to Mr Musharraf in the elections set for January 8th. Earlier this year, the president also allowed former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to return home after years in exile.
Mr Musharraf imposed emergency rule last month after he sacked the head of the Supreme Court who was expected to rule his election last October was illegal because he was also head of the army.
He arrested thousands of people including judges and lawyers who protested against the sacking of Chief Justice Mohammed Chaudry.