Uzbek pop star and politician Jahongir Otajonov says he has quit running in the presidential campaign weeks after he and his colleagues were attacked by unknown individuals for organizing a session of the banned opposition Erk (Freedom) party.

"Every [online political] stream of mine cuts my mom's life by five years. The tears of my parents they shed every day is too much for me. What's the point of being a president if something bad happens to them? I want to extend my apologies to the people as I am quitting political activities for now," Otajonov said.

Otajonov's statement was placed on Instagram on July 10, but the post became inaccessible two days later. It was not clear if Otajonov had removed it, or Uzbek if authorities had blocked it to avoid speculation about pressure being imposed on him.

Otajonov announced his intention to take part in the October presidential election in January.

In late-March, while in Turkey, Otajonov was threatened physically by several unknown individuals.

In April, the Erk party named Otajonov among its possible presidential candidates.

In late May, Erk held a meeting at Otajonov's home in Tashkent and put him forward as their presidential candidate.

But later that day, as party representatives discussed their plans, a group of some 20 people forced their way into Otajonov's home and broke up the meeting.

Earlier in May another opposition leader Khidirnazar Allaqulov said that Uzbekistan's Justice Ministry had rejected his application to register his Haqiqat va Taraqqiyot (Truth and Progress) Social Democratic Party, claiming many of the signatures collected by party activists for registration were invalid.

The next presidential election in Uzbekistan will be held on October 24.