Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has officially filed his nomination papers to contest in the upcoming 2024 national elections. This move comes shortly after the Pakistan Supreme Court granted him bail in a case related to an alleged leak of state secrets, known as the cipher case. The 71-year-old former cricket star had been jailed in August of this year in connection with the alleged violation of the Official Secret Act, but the Supreme Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish that Khan leaked state secrets to benefit a foreign power.

Following the court's decision, Khan's close aide, former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was also granted bail in the same case. The court's ruling on bail for Khan was seen as a step towards ensuring "genuine elections" and allowing the people to express their will effectively and meaningfully. Despite these developments, Khan's PTI party has stated that he still remains incarcerated over numerous separate graft cases, casting doubt on whether he will be released from prison to contest the upcoming polls. Nevertheless, Khan's filing of nomination papers marks a significant step in his political journey, signaling his determination to continue seeking public office despite the legal and political challenges he has faced.