ISLAMABAD (AP) — A close aide to Pakistan's former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf says elections officials have approved his candidacy for parliament in a remote northern district after it was rejected in two other parts of the country.

Rashid Qureshi said officials in Chitral near the Afghan border accepted Musharraf's nomination papers on Sunday.

Musharraf seized power in a military coup in 1999 but was forced to step down nearly a decade later. He returned to Pakistan from exile last month to run for the National Assembly in May 11 elections.

Two other applications for southern and central Pakistani districts were rejected while a third in Islamabad is pending. Opponents have filed objections on based on actions he took while ruling Pakistan.

Chitral officials could not be reached for comment.