ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday said that the polls could be delayed in some of the constituencies if the court allowed change in electoral symbols.
The ECP meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja was held to discuss matters pertaining to change of election symbols ahead of election 2024.
Local media quoted sources as saying, the meeting was briefed on the proceedings regarding the publishing of ballet papers and reviewed the court verdicts on the pleas seeking change in electoral symbols.
Sources said the ECP also ordered the DROs across Pakistan to issue an order and stop the candidates from changing their electoral symbols.
It is pertinent to mention that the PTI election candidates yesterday, challenged the election symbols allotted to them in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
PTI candidates Kamran Bangish, Asif Khan, Aftab Alam and Shafiullah moved the high court. According to the petition, Kamran Bangish was allotted ‘violin’, while the opponent candidate has been given ‘mouth organ’. He pleaded that his rival candidate’s name also begins with Kamran which creates confusion.
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According to the petition Similar election symbols on ballot paper will cause difficulty for voters to recognize.
The candidates further said that Asif Khan, contesting from NA-32, has been allotted hand-cart symbol, while a provincial candidate from the same constituency named Asif Khan has been given the same election symbol of handcart.
The petition argued that the two candidates with similar election symbol will cause confusion among voters.
Petitioners said that before allotting an election symbol the candidate’s opinion must be taken. The election commission, district returning officers and returning officers have been made party in the petition.
