The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed growing apprehensions regarding the possibility of delaying the upcoming general elections due to the ongoing trend of changing electoral symbols by political entities. The ECP noted that political actors are attempting to modify their allotted symbols through various channels even after the symbols have been officially assigned. Despite the ECP's repeated instructions to maintain the stability of symbols once the printing process has commenced, it seems that alterations persist.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ECP highlighted its concerns, stating that if this practice of changing electoral symbols continues unabated, the only recourse might be to postpone the elections in affected constituencies. The ECP underscored that the printing of ballot papers is already underway, and it has issued orders to three printing corporations to proceed with the task.
The context of this statement arises from requests made by political parties and candidates to change their allotted symbols, some of which are reportedly still pending before higher courts. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is among those seeking symbol changes, with its central polls in charge, Senator Taj Haider, appealing to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to alter symbols for several candidates who were declared independent due to issues with the 'arrow' symbol.
The ECP's estimation of paper usage for the 2024 polls has raised concerns, with an anticipated usage of 2,070 tonnes, a substantial increase from the 800 tonnes utilized in the 2018 elections. This escalation, coupled with the challenge of symbol alterations, raises concerns about the potential wastage of paper and the logistical difficulties associated with printing new ballot papers.
The issue of symbol changes has also led to legal actions, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari suggesting that the matter might be taken to court. Furthermore, the pending petition of Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former prime minister, against the rejection of his nomination papers adds to the complexity.
The ECP also emphasized the financial strain on Pakistan, which is already grappling with a severe balance of payment crisis, as it imports paper for electoral purposes. Additionally, the distribution of electoral symbols plays a crucial role in facilitating voter recognition, especially considering the substantial illiterate population in Pakistan. The PTI's recent denial of the cricket bat symbol, synonymous with Imran Khan, adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.
