Additional Sessions Judge Qamar-uz-Zaman, who is the returning officer, rejected Sharif's candidacy in view of his conviction in a hijacking case in 2000.

Last week, his brother Shahbaz's nomination papers were rejected by the election authorities citing pending criminal charges. Local Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leaders said that Sharif is expected to challenge the decision in court.

They, however, said their party had little faith in the judiciary comprising judges handpicked by Musharraf. Three people, including PML-Q candidate Khwaja Tahir Zia, had filed objections to the PML-N leader's nomination.

Zia had demanded that Sharif be declared ineligible because of his involvement in the hijacking case. The case relates to Sharif's alleged efforts in 1999 to turn back a plane that was bringing back Musharraf -- then the army chief -- from a foreign trip. Musharraf got in touch with army commanders on the ground and organised a coup to depose Sharif.

In 2000, Sharif was convicted for hijacking and sentenced to life imprisonment. He later went into exile to Saudi Arabia in exchange for the dropping of his prison term.

Shortly after Sharif's return to Pakistan last month, Attorney General Malik Qayyum had said that he was not likely to be allowed to contest the polls in view of his conviction.