- Pakistan's Supreme Court has lifted a permanent ban on convicted politicians from participating in elections.
- The court ruling, applied on Monday, will allow former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and other convicted politicians to contest future elections.
- Under the new executive order, politicians who are convicted of a crime will be barred from running for office for five years instead of for life.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday lifted a permanent ban on politicians with convictions from contesting elections, paving the way for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to run for a fourth time.
The court's ruling will allow other politicians to run for parliament in the February 8 election.
A lifetime ban on politicians with convictions from running for office was imposed in 2018. Under a new court order passed on Monday, politicians with convictions will be barred from running for office for five years.
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Mr Sharif's party announced that he will seek re-election for a fourth term after returning in October from four years of self-imposed exile in London to avoid a prison sentence on corruption charges. After his return, they were overturned on appeal.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves to supporters as he arrives to address a welcome rally in Lahore, Pakistan, October 21, 2023. A Pakistani court on December 12 overturned former Prime Minister Sharif's 2018 corruption conviction. He was acquitted in the case, paving the way for him to run in parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in February. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)
Sharif resigned as prime minister in 2017 over corruption charges. His main rival, Imran Khan, who is currently serving a prison term, has also announced plans to run next month.
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Although Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022, he remains a leading figure and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has many supporters.
